Anthony “Tony” Barban

Tony Barban

Anthony (Tony) Barban, (71) of Lynnwood, Washington, passed away on June 25, 2025, due to complications from a tumor caused by Acute Myeloid Leukemia, along with the effects of polycystic kidney disease.

Born in Seattle, Tony was the youngest of three children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Patricia and Osburn (“Buzz”) Barban, and his sister Michelle Barban. He is survived by his sister, Cindy Bauleke, and her husband Ron of Bellingham, Washington.

Tony is lovingly remembered by his wife, Leslie, whom he married in 1998, and by their blended tribe of grown children; Jasmine Barban, Shannon Barban and her fiancé Bryan Jackson, Vincent (Mike) Weinert, and Kitty Everett and her fiancé Jon French, Adam Barban, and Adam’s wife, Bethel. Tony leaves behind many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cherished lifelong friends.

Tony grew up in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood and often reminisced about crawling out onto the roof of his childhood home just to sit and watch the world go by. He attended Queen Anne High School and later enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served in Germany as a member of the honor guard, participating in military funeral ceremonies with great respect and dedication.

Over the years, Tony wore many hats — he worked for the health department, drove taxis, and even opened his own computer shop, a reflection of his love for technology and gadgets. Although the shop didn’t last, it showed his curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit. Ultimately, it was the towing industry where Tony found his longest and most fulfilling career. He began as a driver and moved through several companies before landing at Lincoln Towing — a place that would shape both his professional and personal life. It was at Lincoln where he met his second wife, Leslie.

At Lincoln, Tony was much more than just a driver. He became a notary, handled dispatch and front desk operations, and was the go-to person for fixing computer issues. One of his fondest memories was driving the iconic “Pink Toe” truck in the Seattle Seafair Parade. When it broke down, a team of University of Washington cheerleaders jumped in to push it along — a moment that brought him great joy and frequent laughter.

Tony was an avid reader throughout his life. He devoured mystery novels, science fiction, and fantasy, often getting lost in the worlds of his favorite authors like Dick Francis and Anne McCaffrey. Books were his constant companions, and he found peace, adventure, and inspiration in their pages.

He also had a deep love for motorcycles and was especially proud of his Harley, which held the honor of being the only vehicle allowed in the garage. When his health eventually kept him off the road, he found joy in the kitchen. Baking bread became a new passion, and he loved sharing his knowledge with his grandson James. Together, they also made homemade ice cream — a treat that never lasted long once it was ready.

Tony will be remembered for his sense of humor, his love of learning, his loyalty to friends and family, and the quiet ways he showed his care. He brought people together with his stories, his generosity, and his presence.

A celebration of Tony’s life will be held on Friday, August 29, 2025, at his home in Lynnwood, with a start time of 2pm. This will be a potluck style gathering where we encourage you to bring stories, pictures and anything else you’d like to share with his family.

Address of Celebration of life:

19819 10th Pl W
Lynnwood, WA 98036