William Kowalyk, 94, of Vero Beach, passed away on May 30, 2014.
He is survived by his wife, Ellen Lawther Kowalyk; son, Alexander; step-daughter, Sue Ellen Blanchard; step-son, Dean J. Lawther; four step-grandchildren; and a sister, Marie Miller.
He was born Jan. 18, 1920, by the Red River in Winnipeg, Canada, the first born of immigrant parents from Russia, Nicholas and Lillian Kowalyk. The family later moved to New York City where Kowalyk grew up.
He attended City College of New York belonging to the National Guard. After two years, his unit was federalized to active duty for the Army. He retired from the Army having served 26 years in the Army Corp of Engineers, which he was proud to be a part of.
He also attended Texas A&M and served in the European Theatre during World War II, followed by duty in Korea and Vietnam. Kowalyk and his first wife, Thelma Weeding of Blackfoot, Idaho, where married in 1943. Following retirement in 1964, from the Army, they opened and operated The Olde Main Gallery in Bellevue, Wash., for 16 years, selling the paintings of Dennis Ramsay and other European artists.
His memberships in Washington included distinguished Past President of Kiwanis Club of Bellevue, member of Renaissance Lodge #312, Seattle Scottish Rite, and Shriner of Nile Temple, Mountlake Terrace. He was also a member of Vero Beach Country Club. His wife, Thelma, predeceased him in 2000.
A Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, June 7, at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, with the Rev. Canon Michael L. Ward, officiating. Donations in memory of Kowalyk may be mailed to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239 or to Indian River Medical Center Foundation, 1000 36th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960. Inurnment will be at Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Wash. An online guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.