Obituary: Ted Kolbaba

In addition to the usual rigors of training and service, Ted entered a writing contest with a short story, “Be A Man,” which won first place in his squadron, first place in the 15th Air Force, and third place in the Strategic Air Command. After he left the Air Force in 1957, he worked at various jobs before returning to school at the University of Washington in 1958, where he earned a B.A. in business administration and a J.D. from the University of Washington Law School in 1964. He was admitted to the Bar of Washington State in 1965 and practiced law briefly in Seattle. Then he and a partner bought an attorney’s practice in White Salmon, where he practiced law until he was elected Judge for the Superior Court of Klickitat and Skamania counties in 1972.

He continued as Superior Court judge for 22 years, a post to which he was re-elected five times. He served on the Southwest Washington Educational Services District Board for several years and was an active member of the Washington Superior Court Judges’ Association, where he served as president in 1991-1992.

Ted was a loving father and community leader. As soon as he was able, he bought horses for his children and began a lifetime of trail riding. With Marian, he led the West End Wranglers, a horse 4-H club, for 15 years. On many weekends, he loaded a herd of horses into a huge stock-truck (it was a sight to see) and hauled them off to horse shows. He was also a well-known sight in community parades, leading the club on horseback, although his favorite horse-related activity was the annual roundup of cattle in Gifford Pinchot National Forest (aka Kow Kamp).

He coached community basketball and loved to attend his children’s football and basketball games, sometimes traveling two, three, or even four hours after work to make it to district games. An advocate for his basketball-playing girls, he fought to ensure that the girls’ basketball team had equal access to training facilities. He learned to downhill ski in his 50s so that he could spend more time with his son.

In the empty-nest phase of his life, he took up bicycle touring in a serious way, and became a familiar sight on the road between Husum and Trout Lake, Washington. He completed many double-century rides, including the Seattle-to-Portland ride. Eventually Marian joined him on a tandem bike, with which they continued to participate in long rides, such as the Cross-Oregon ride. After retirement, Ted and Marian moved into their motor home and traveled throughout the United States, with excursions into Mexico and Canada, pursuing their lifelong interest in all aspects of American history. Few presidential libraries, historical museums, or battlefields escaped their notice. Eventually they settled in a stationary home (or homes), spending their winters in Bullhead City, Arizona, and their summers in Hood River. Ted worked as a truck driver for Paasch Orchards during harvest for many years, “retiring” from that job only in 2014. When they settled in Bullhead City, he volunteered at the senior center, driving the senior bus a few times a week. Ted was utterly committed to giving back to his community and his family, and he acted on that commitment every single day.

Since 2019, Ted and Marian had resided in Hood River — first, in Providence Down Manor, then in Hawk’s Ridge Assisted Living, and finally in Providence Brookside Manor.

Ted is survived by his wife of 71 years Marian, of Hood River; his daughter Rani Merz (Bob), of Husum; his daughter, Tia Kolbaba (Jim Masschaele), of East Brunswick, New Jersey; his daughter, Tedi Paasch (David), of Hood River; and his son Kyle (Jayme) of Prineville, Oregon. He will also be missed by his grandchildren and their partners: Connor Williams of Husum, Alexa Williams Savard (Turner) of BZ Corners, H. Forrest Williams of Husum, Leandra Paasch of Hood River, Duran Paasch-Catalano (Liz) of Spokane, Kolton Kolbaba of Los Angeles, Derek Kolbaba (Aymie) of Walla Walla, Cameron Masschaele of East Brunswick, Elodie Masschaele of San José, California, Kenna Kolbaba of Portland, and Cole Kolbaba of Prineville. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren. His daughter Candace Kay Kolbaba and his sisters Berniece Wheeler and Dottie Barreith pre-deceased him. Judge Kolbaba requested a private memorial service for family only.

For those who wish to recognize Ted’s life with a donation in his memory, the family recommends a gift to Washington Gorge Action Programs, wagap.org. Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.