Saturday, March 22, 2014 • The South Whidbey Record
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Bill Strothman, one of two men killed this week in a KOMO TV News helicopter crash in Seattle, had long ties to South Whidbey. He planned to retired in Coupeville.
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old McQueens gas station on Main Street shortly after WWII. They later purchased a home on Mutiny Bay, where the siblings spent summers roaming the beach. Whidbey never left Strothman’s heart, said Martin, and he recently purchased a condo in Coupeville where he planned to retire with his wife, Nora McDonnell Strothman. “He was planning on staying here the rest of his life, he loved it so much,” Martin said. The helicopter accident occurred early Tuesday morning as the aircraft was taking off from the helipad on top of Fisher Plaza. What went wrong remains unclear, but the helicopter fell to the street below and burst into flames. Pilot Gary Pfitzner was
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also killed in the accident, and a third man on the ground was seriously burned. The cause remains under investigation. Martin, a longtime former Langley Chamber of Commerce director, learned of the crash just a few minutes after it occurred. She had just woken up and turned on KOMO news, as is her habit, and saw footage of the accident. She immediately called her brother’s cell phone, but no one answered. Subsequent calls con-
firmed her worst fears and the days since the accident have been something of a blur. “I didn’t sleep for 30 hours from when I saw that first ball of fire ... I just paced the house,” she said. The support of family has
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been the biggest help in coping with the sudden and tragic loss, she said, but losing Strothman was particularly difficult because she lost a sister years ago in another accident. “Bill and I were all that was left,” she said. The news struck Small hard too. Meeting on the beaches of Mutiny Bay in the 1960s, the two enjoyed a lifelong friendship and many adventures, from a stint in Hawaii to bicycle trips across the mountains. Small said his friend was a remarkable man, a person who took life in stride and never seemed to get angry about anything. “Except for the time I dropped a boat anchor on his toe,” said Small, chuckling with the memory. Martin said her brother was known for his gentle disposition and his caring approach to both his personal and professional life. Having spent 10 years in broadcast journalism, she described him as an “old school” reporter who respected both the story and
sources. “There was not an ounce of tabloid in my brother,” she said. And that’s not just sibling boasting. Strothman earned 13 Emmy awards over his career as a photographer and videographer. Martin noted that his death spurred condolences from people across the globe. “I’ve been totally blown away,” Martin said. “We’ve gotten emails from all over the world.”
360-679-4003 • 877-679-4003 www.seatacshuttle.com
South Whidbey
CHURCH DIRECTORY Assembly of God 360-221-1656 • Langley 5373 Maxwelton Road
www.swag-online.org Loving God, Loving People, Serving the World Sunday Worship Services 8:30AM & 10:30AM Both services offer, nursery for infants and toddlers & kids classes for 3yrs to 4th grade Matt Chambers, Pastor Dareld Chittim, Associate Pastor Mark Brinkman, Youth Pastor Home of Island Christian Academy 360-221-0919
Calvary Chapel of Whidbey Island Teaching through God’s Word
579-2570 • Clinton 3821 E. French Road
www.ccwhidbey.com Sunday Services 9 & 11AM
Christian Science Church 321-4080 or 222-3182 • Langley 15910 Hwy 525 at Useless Bay Rd Sunday Church Service: 10:30AM Wednesday Service: 7:30PM 1st Wednesday of the month
“I always said he was the best Christmas present we ever got,” she said. Strothman leaves behind two children, son Dan Strothman and daughter Heidi Heath. A private service for family and friends will be held next Saturday, March 29, in Bothell. Martin said those wishing to make donations can give them to Good Cheer, a charity she says Strothman long admired.
Christian Life Center 331-5778
Loving God... Reaching People!
1832 Scott Rd. Freeland Professional Center
Sunday Morning Worship 10:00AM Nursery & Sunday School through 8th Grade Celebrate Recovery Tuesday evenings 7PM Christian Life’s Ministry Center Pastor Chad Word www.clcwhidbey.com
The Island Church of Whidbey
Christian & Missionary Alliance Church
221-6980 • Langley 6th & Cascade
“Loving Christ and Others Well” Sunday Worship 10:30AM and 6:00PM Sunday School for all ages 9:15AM www.islandchurchofwhidbey.org
Langley United Methodist Church 221-4233 • 3rd & Anthes
lumc@whidbey.com Sunday Service 9:30AM Nursery and Sunday School for grades K-12 during service Adult Forum class 11AM Rev. Mary Boyd, Pastor Bill Humphreys, Music Director Eve Carty, Program Associate Lauren Coleman, Youth/Family Coord. www.Langleyumc.org A Greening, Reconciling & Advocating Congregation “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors”
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To list your religious services here, call 360-221-5300 or 877-316-7276
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South Whidbey Church of Christ 341-2252 • Bayview Senior Service Center - Bayview Sunday Worship: 9:30AM Sunday Bible Classes: 10:30AM Call regarding Wednesday Bible Class
St. Augustine’s in the Woods Episcopal Church “A Greening Congregation”
331-4887 • Freeland 5217 Honeymoon Bay Road
Holy Eucharist Sun: 8AM & 10:30AM Nursery & Youth Programs Provided Monday Solemn Evensong 5:30PM Wednesday Holy Eucharist and Ministry of Healing: 10:00AM www.staugustinesepiscopalchurch.org Rev. Nigel Taber-Hamilton, Rector Julie Spangler, Director of Christian Formation
St. Hubert Catholic Church 221-5383 • Langley 804 Third Street
Masses: Saturday 5:00PM Sunday 8:00AM and 10:30AM Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri. 8:15AM Wednesday 10:30AM Fr. Rick Spicer, pastor Marcia Halligan, pastoral associate E-mail sthubert@whidbey.com
fax (360) 221-2011
South Whidbey Community Church A place to begin… A place to belong!
221-1220 • Langley
www.whidbeychurch.org Sunday Morning Worship 10:00AM Adult Sunday School 9:00AM Deer Lagoon Grange 5142 S. Bayview Road, Langley Home Bible Studies available Darrell Wenzek, pastor
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island 321-8656 Freeland 20103 State Route 525
Sunday Service at 10AM Values-Based Religious Education Sept-June Childcare Year-Round Everyone welcome! Minister: Rev. Dennis Reynolds email: admin@uucwi.org website: www.uucwi.org