Ted Middleton

1920 – 2014

Ted was born April 29, 1920 in Aberdeen, Wash., to E.A. and Doris Kerr Middleton. Ted and his younger brother, Rick, attended school in Aberdeen, Wash., and at Webb School in Claremont, Calif.

Ted attended college at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and Oregon State University, where he majored in agriculture. He served in the U.S. Army.

Ted married Elgene (Genie) Polson (d. 1956) and has two daughters, Deborah (Barry Cassidy) and Anne (Will Foster). He has one grandchild, Katherine Cassidy.

Ted married Ethel Love, an electrical engineer (d. 2000). Ted worked for the Anderson & Middleton Co. of Aberdeen, Wash.

Ted’s family started annual visits to San Juan Island in 1957, staying at Lonesome Cove. The family also stayed with Bill and Doe Webb, when his friend Bill ran a boys’ summer camp at what is now Wescott Bay Sea Farms. Ted and Ethel retired to the island about 40 years ago.

Ted was well known for walking on various island trails with his beloved Welsh corgis. Besides extended family, Ted leaves behind many friends, his breakfast buddies, nieces, nephews, cousin Molly Tuohy, and close friend Jennifer Woodbridge.

Ted loved steam engines, old machinery, antique tractors, farm machinery, and books. He was an avid reader and had a life-long over of learning. He especially loved the natural world and wildlife. He also built boats, including rowboats for his daughters and a tug, which is still working in the Port of Olympia.

Ted was a quiet, kind, and thoughtful person, well loved by many people.

from Journal of the San Juans