Fred O. Eggiman

A Full Life

Frederick Orrin Eggiman was born in Portland, Oregon, on October 13, 1928, the fourth child of Irmal and Arnold Eggiman. He died at home on Saturday, January 9, 2016. He was 87.

Growing up in Lents (a suburb of Portland), Fred learned early-on the value of hard work by helping in his father’s meat market. Besides learning the various cuts of meats (a skill that would make him the “grill-master” at family cook-outs), Fred also gained an affinity for business, which would eventually define his career.

Fred loved sports. As a kid, he’d play sandlot baseball. At Franklin High School he was a lineman in football. Later, he would be a key player for the Lents Church softball and basketball teams.

Following high school, Fred took courses at Willamette University and Oregon State University. Then everything changed when he met Josephine “Lois” Cramer in 1949. The couple was married on April 15, 1950—eight days after Fred decided to become a follower of Jesus Christ. The supportive and loving relationship that Fred and Lois nurtured over their 65 years of marriage was a model for all. Fred always valued his family, and was proud of his four children: Cathie Susan, Sally Lois, Debra Jean, and Donald Frederick; eight grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.

With a growing family, Fred soon entered the workforce, eventually choosing the office supply industry. In 1974, Fred moved his family to Bellevue, Washington, to manage the Johnson and Staley, Inc. office. Following a buy-out by United Wholesalers in 1985, Fred decided to start his own business, and Specialty Office Supplies (S.O.S.) was created with an office and warehouse located in Redmond, Washington.

A man of quiet faith, Fred prioritized serving the church, first at Lents Church in Portland, where he sang in the choir, and served as youth leader and Sunday School superintendent. At Westminster Chapel in Bellevue, Fred was an usher and taught 7^th grade boys, and at Union Hill Church, he was always “on-call” for various work projects. As a Christian, he led by example through his humble obedience to God. He especially loved the Bible as evidenced by his two-year project of reading through the Old and New Testaments and compiling his notes in a journal, which he presented to his children in 2005.
After retiring from S.O.S. in 1993, Fred and Lois purchased a second home in Sun City West, Arizona, where they spent 10 winters. It was here Fred began his “second career” in senior softball, playing on several teams through his early 80s. The highlight of this experience was his “World Series Ring”, which he wore with justified pride.

Husband. Father. Grandfather. Businessman. Churchman. Sportsman. Friend. Fred handled all of these roles in the same way he battled his cancer–with dignity, determination, and grace. He summed it all well near the end when he told Ben, “I’m blessed–I’ve led a full life.”

FRED’S FAMILY

• Wife of 65 years, Lois.

Children and Spouses

• Cathie and Greg Coffin (daughter and son-in-law)
• Sally and John Glancy (daughter and son-in-law)
• Debra and Stan Sephton (daughter and son-in-law)
• Don and Sally Eggiman (son and daughter-in-law)

Grandchildren (and Spouses)

• Julie (Coffin) and Brett Pointek
• Ben and Kathryn Coffin
• Daniel and Rachel Coffin
• Nick and Joyce Glancy
• Angie (Glancy) and Jake Sego
• Josephine Patterson (daughter of Debra)
• Jennie (Patterson) and Joe Shiver
• Gentry Eggiman

Great Grandchildren

• Reece Pointek
• Conner Pointek
• Ella Coffin
• Frederick “Freddie” Coffin
• Rosie Glancy
• Lily Glancy
• Kristen (Shiver) Constantine
• Joey Shiver, Jr.
• Gabriel Shiver
• Braiden Shiver
• Garrett Orrin Shiver

Great Great Grandchildren

• Isaiah Constantine
• Addison Constantine