Ronald (Ron) Simonds Green
Ronald (Ron) Simonds Green, born in Bothell on December 21, 1916, died from complications of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia at Evergreen Hospice in Kirkland on March 6, 2010. His parents were early Bothell residents, Charles Henry Green and Sarah Elizabeth Simonds Green. Ron grew up in Bothell, and received his diploma from Bothell High School in 1935. He went on to earn a degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington in 1939. While at the UW he was active in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, the YMCA, student theater productions, and he became a lifelong Husky fan. Most importantly, he met the love of his life, Eleanor Bird, at the Varsity Ball during their freshman year. They married in December, 1939. After working for the U.S. Post Office in Seattle, he became an investigator with the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. In August, 1943, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving as a navigator instructor until the end of World War II. Returning home to Bothell, he worked with his father at the Ford dealership and repair garage founded by Charles Green in 1919. In 1954, Ron became sole owner of Green Ford. He sold the business in 1965 and moved to Olympia to become Administrator of the Division of Dealer and Vehicle Licensing in the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Retiring in 1980, he and Eleanor returned to the family home in Bothell. Beginning in 1999, they enjoyed living among their many friends at the Brittany Park retirement community in Woodinville. An enthusiastic amateur actor, Ron was a founder of the 1950s community drama group, Bothell Intercommunity Theater (the B.I.T. Players). He was a Past Master of Ashler Lodge #121 F. & A.M., and a Shriner. Proud of his service in World War II, he joined and remained a member of the American Legion for the rest of his life. Deeply interested in local history, he and Eleanor served as their church’s historians and were hosts at the Bothell Historical Museum, and active board members of the Bothell Historical Society. They were instrumental in compiling and publishing A Slough of Memories, a book of personal accounts of Bothell-Kenmore-Woodinville history. In 2000, he received the Bothell High School Alumni Association Honored Alumnus award. Ron’s lifelong interest in international friendships brought frequent guests from abroad into the family home, and Ron and Eleanor traveled extensively during their retirement years. Survivors are his beloved wife of 70 years, Eleanor Green of Woodinville; brother Gordon Green of San Antonio, TX; children Ron Green, Jr., and companion Claudia Bro, Bothell; Janet Green Hunter and husband Richard, San Diego, CA; and Darrell Green and wife Pam, Redmond. Ron was adored by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Tana Green, Brooklyn, NY; Elizabeth Green, Oakland, CA; Jill Hunter Hensley, husband Darryl, and their children Cassandra, Miles, and Alexander, Encinitas, CA; Greg Hunter, wife Wendy, and their children Meredith and Edwin, Solana Beach, CA; Scott Hunter and wife Ashley, New Haven, CT; Brian Green, Seattle; Emily Green, husband Derick Wanigapura and their son Andrew, Redmond; and Jolie Lewis, San Diego, CA. He is also survived by two dear exchange student “daughters,” Yoko Ueyama Shiga, Japan, and Ursula Mielke-Hoelscher, Germany. Granddaughter Karen Hunter predeceased him. A memorial service will be held at 2 pm Saturday, March 20, at the Bothell United Methodist Church, where Ron was an active 80-year member, 18515 92nd Ave N.E., Bothell, WA 98011. The family suggests memorial gifts to one of the following: Bothell United Methodist Church; Evergreen Hospice, 12822 124th Lane N.E., Kirkland, WA 98034; Bothell High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 554, Bothell, WA 98041-0554.
