Obituary of Jean Linton Updike

Jean Linton Updike, age 84, died on December 1, 2008, in Edmonds. Private family services will be held in Seattle with interment in Tahoma National Cemetery.Jean was born in Seattle to C. Ogden and Alma Holl Linton on November 9, 1924, at Minor Hospital.She graduated from Roosevelt High School, Class of 1942 in Seattle and attended the University of Washington for three years, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. (Once her family was raised, she completed her B. A. at San Jose State University). She met her husband, Robert E. Updike of Spokane, at the University of Washington and they were married in 1944. He predeceased her in 2003.Jean had a rich and varied life, much of it as an Army officers wife, supporting her husband through his service and long absences in three wars (World War II on LSTs in the South Pacific, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War). Bob began military life at the U of W as an NROTC cadet, ending up retiring from the US Army.This service took Jean to dozens of posts all around the US and the world. Though many of the postings were difficult, and often times she was the only parent due to Bobs war tours, she always made the best of the situation and created warm, loving homes. She and their two daughters Barbara and Carolyn especially treasured three years duty in Germany and later three years in El Salvador. When they were stationed in Fort Ord, while Bob had command of the 4th Brigade, they fell in love with Carmel and bought a house. After retirement in Washington, D. C., they returned to the Monterey Peninsula where they lived for 14 years. In 1978 they returned to their home state, living in Bellingham for 25 years, until Bobs death in 2003.Once the girls were raised, Jean had time for her career. She was a professional staff member for the Girl Scouts on the Monterey Peninsula and later, a consultant to the U. S. State Departments Agency for International Development, traveling often to Central and South America promoting creation of volunteer organizations. Upon retirement in 1980 she served in volunteer positions for the Girl Scouts-Totem Council and the American Association of University Women.She is survived by her two daughters, Barbara McCaffrey of Arlington, VA, and Carolyn Echelbarger (husband,Lindsey) of Woodway, WA; four grandsons, David McCaffrey, James Robert Echelbarger, Sean Echelbarger and Nicholas Echelbarger (wife, Caitlin); and sister-in-law Patricia Adams, of Spokane. She is also survived by her dear sister, Joan Beardsley of Freeland, WA, in addition to several nieces and nephews.The family suggests memorials to Girl Scouts-Totem Council, Alpha Chi Omega Society or a charity of ones choice. A memorial service will be held in January.