George Robert Webster
George R. Webster
George Robert Webster, born January 5, 1937, passed away peacefully at his home in Shoreline, WA on April 2, 2018, after a courageous struggle against pancreatic cancer.
George was born at Providence Hospital in Everett, Washington on January 5, 1937. He grew up in Snohomish, WA, son of Clyde Arthur Webster and Letha Hope (Eckert) Webster. George graduated from Snohomish High School and went on to the University of Washington graduating in 1960 with a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering. George met his wife of 57 years, Velma M. (Romine) Webster on a blind date during his senior year of college and they married at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Snohomish, WA on February 4, 1961. After college, George worked for Scott Paper Mill in Everett, WA where he developed several environmental patents. George was next employed by the Public Health Service who sent him back to the University of Washington to get his Masters degree in Sanitary Engineering. Upon completing his masters’ studies, George loaded his young family into his 1953 Ford and drove to Washington DC taking a job with the EPA. His experiences there included two-years as Technical Representative to OECD in Paris, France, while working ten-years as a GS-15 Senior Environmental Engineer. Honors included being a Diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers with expertise in Water and Wastewater. After a brief employment with Marsh McLennan in Bloomfield, Michigan, George and his family were able to move back to “God’s country”, the Pacific Northwest, where he started his first company Ekistics and later Webster’s Inc., specialized in asbestos inspections and abatement management for WSU, UW and ten local school districts, and leaking underground storage tank clean-up. George was a licensed Professional Engineer with over 45 years experience and loved every minute of it. He continued as a consultant to local environmental firms up until the time of his death. George was most proud of his elected position as Commissioner on the Ronald Wastewater District for which he served the Shoreline community for almost 5 years, until his illness required him to retire. 
George was an experienced traveler, having traveled extensively throughout the United States and internationally including: Sweden, Denmark, France, Porto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and Thailand. George will be remembered for his love of card and board games, especially hearts and his uncanny ability to “shoot the moon”, and his love for all things Lord of the Rings, inspiring his nickname Gandalf the White and his car Shadowfax. George was a gold enthusiast and loved to go mining for nuggets. George had a wacky sense of humor which had him loving Stewart, the one eyed minion, and other quirky gag gifts.
George is survived by his wife Velma, son Robert George Webster; daughter Robin Kay (Webster) Rayfield; son-in- law Brian M. Rayfield and grandchildren, Allison K. Webster, Christopher R. Webster, Phillip J. Webster, Grant A. Rayfield and Jacqueline G. Rayfield.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 19th at 1PM at Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Center, 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155.
A graveside service will be held prior for immediate family only on Friday, April 13th at 11AM at Holyrood Cemetery. Please visit Barton Funeral Home at www.bartonfuneral.com to leave comments for the family.
Thank you to all who have offered condolences during this sad time. George will be greatly missed.
7 Responses to “George Robert Webster”
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Velma and family – we know you will miss George lots. We just barely got to know him and his great sense of humor, although we have known Velma for a very long time. We extend our thoughts and prayers to the Romine/Webster family.
Velma sorry for you and the kids George will be missed
I remember the very first time I met George. He introduced himself as “George Webster, just like the Dictionary”. Usually I have trouble with names but that introduction made it stick. We will miss our good neighbor.
George was a gold bug with an upbeat disposition, a rare combination. I got to know him simply as “Webster” and very much enjoyed our interactions over the years. He had a great laugh, even when I poked fun at some of his entrepreneurial efforts that didn’t pan out the way he had hoped. I’ll miss him.
Sorry to read that he passed away via LinkedIn (thanks for posting the news there). I never met him in person but enjoyed interacting with him in various embodiments of the game-by-email, Beyond the Stellar Empire (BSE).
I worked with George at what he called The Fish Farm in Edmonds in 2002. Our venture failed but I never forgot George’s constant optimism and nutty sense of humor. I still can see him driving off into the sunset in his beloved red Cadillac Allante. Most people I forget – George isn’t one of them. Godspeed Gandalf.
I knew George from my childhood.. My grandmother, Bertha Throop was Mrs.Arvin Websters’ in home nurse. When Mrs. Webster passed, my grandmother stayed on as Arvins’ nurse/caretaker. (This was on Parkhurst Drive in Bloomfield Michigan.)
I loved the Websters, I always felt part of the family when staying at his home with my grandmother. He was like a grandfather to us. I miss those wonderful days.. Especially the greenhouse!
My heart goes out to the Webster family, just wanted to let them know how special they were.
God Bless, Susan