Ted R. Genger Sr.

August 10, 1926 - October 17, 2019
Bellingham, WA

Ted R. Genger Sr.

August 10, 1926 - October 17, 2019
Bellingham, WA

Obituary

Ted Roland Genger Sr., a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away on October 17, 2019, at the age of 93. He spent the last days of his life surrounded by the love and comfort of his family in the warm and caring surroundings of the Hospice House.

Born in his parents’ Bellingham home on August 10, 1926, he was an only child who learned first-hand the value of hard work, a devout faith, and what it meant to be loved unconditionally. As a child of the Depression, Ted was constantly helping his parents, who owned the Stop & Shop Restaurant downtown, and then later the Genger Farm Supply Store. He attended Bellingham High School where he met his lifelong sweetheart, Fay Hite Genger.

After high school, Ted proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Corp during WWII as an aircraft mechanic. On March 25, 1947, he married Alberta Fay Hite. Their marriage was full of love, laughter, travel, and a demonstrated commitment to community and service. With care and devotion, they built a beautiful marriage together that serves as a profound example to this day.

Following WWII, he ventured into the contracting business with his father as Genger & Son Construction. His family often hears, “Ted built my house…”. Eventually, he retired from his passion for building homes to pursue even greater pleasures with family and friends. Ted and Fay spent 65 joyful years together, many of those square dancing, boating, motor-homing, wintering in Palm Desert, and watching sunsets at their summer home on Lake Whatcom – a sanctuary imbued with more than 60 years of memories and family traditions.

While Ted enjoyed memberships in Rotary and the Bellingham Yacht, Golf, and Motorhome Clubs, his dedication to the Lord was lifelong. As a congregant for more than eight decades at Birchwood Presbyterian Church, of which his parents were founding members, he served as an Elder, sang in the choir from boyhood on through his entire life, shared in his very special Bible Study group, and played an integral part in the planning and building of its new church building. “Papa Ted”, as he was known not only to his family, but to all who knew him, served as a true example throughout his life of acceptance, graciousness, and generosity. He impacted so many, and so many, of all ages, call him a friend. His family was of utmost importance to him and he loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren beyond measure. This we will always know.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents, James and Ivy; wife, Fay; and daughter, Susan O’Connell Bluhm. He is survived by his children Gayle Ann Chalfant (Scott) and Ted Genger Jr. (Frances); nine grandchildren: Christine Stubblefield (Roger), Erin O’Connell (Shane), Matthew Chalfant (Lucy), Jordan Chalfant (Lauren), Erin Carius (Brandon), T.J. Genger III (Mackenzie), and Madison, Carson, and Taryn Genger; and 10 great-grandchildren: Wyatt, Finn, Jackson, Roland, Clayton, Clara, Henry, Ivy, Teddy IV, and Hudson.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, October 29th at his lifelong church, Cordata Presbyterian, formerly known as Birchwood (400 Meadowbrook Ct., Bellingham, WA).

Memorial contributions may be made to Cordata Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund or Whatcom Hospice Services.

 

Celebration of Life

  • Date & Time: October 29, 2019 (2:00 PM)
  • Venue: Cordata Presbyterian
  • Location: 400 Meadowbrook Court Bellingham, WA 98226 - (Get Directions)

No Charities & Donations

No Gallery Photos

No Videos

5 responses to Ted R. Genger Sr.

  1. Nancy Petree says:

    We are so sorry for your loss. I will remember all the great times I had with mother at the lake and Birch Bay with your whole family and how your dad was such a great host . Truly a wonderful man and a great person to call a friend. I know our family will miss his smile and his graciousness that he showed every time we visited. I send you all my prayers and love during this sad time. Nancy Hosman Petree

  2. This is a very nice obituary. I’m so sorry for your loss. Love and hugs.
    ~ Andrea

  3. What a wonderful man. He built my parents home on the lake years ago and it is still beautiful. He lead a great life.

  4. Rich Perry says:

    Ted was a fine man and a gentleman. He and Faye were high school classmates of my parents. Ted built my aunt and Uncle’s home in Blaine in the early 60’s so when we built our house in the late 70’s I hired Ted and his crew. They did a fine job and were a pleasure to work with. The world is a better place because of people like Ted. May he rest in peace.

  5. Ric Peterson says:

    Ted was in business with my father, Bud Peterson, and his brothers Ken and Don. Together they accomplished many amazing projects for the right reasons. The first was Alderwood Park Convalescent Center. Their concept was an appropriate place for the aging and ailing. At that time there was only nursing homes in Whatcom County. It filled such a health care void that they brought their practices to a second facility and expanded the original. They built apartments, purchased orange groves in Florida, and started Hawk Creek Development on Lake Roosevelt to name only a few. All these ventures were extremely successful.

    Beyond business, Ted and Faye had many adventures with my parents. They met square dancing, practiced their love of the water in their twin Uniflite 42’s, traveled, and dreamed together.

    I have many fond memories of Ted. He fostered my early interest in competitive sailing during visits to their lake house. Ted always had performance boats and he was most generous with their use. I was also lucky enough to ride trail bikes with Ted, his neighbor and a good friend on occasions. Ted was a skilled rider and always had the latest and greatest bike. I can recall visiting the Lynn Street home where Ted had just built a game table consisting of paddles on rods to move a ping pong ball to a goal on either end. This was a good 10 years before Foosball came out. He was always a little ahead of his time. I was very aware of the quality of Ted’s construction projects; his care and execution influenced my career in architecture.

    Ted may have been an only child, but my father called him “bother Ted.” He was family.

    All our love to the Genger family!

    The Peterson family
    Ric Peterson

Leave A Condolence