Theodore ‘Ted’ Scott Calhoun

Ted Calhoun, formerly of Vashon Island, died Jan. 9, 2006, at Providence-Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. He was 78 years old.

Mr. Calhoun was born on July 8, 1927, on Vashon to Clyde and Mary (Bourgeois) Calhoun.

He attended Dockton Grade School and Vashon High School.

He married Esther Schmidt on Dec. 12, 1956.

Mr. Calhoun began working for the Vashon Packing Company at age 15.

He left there in 1943 and began working for Vashon Theatre and Vashon Sand and Gravel until being inducted into the U.S. Army on Oct. 4, 1945. He served as a private first class and drove supply transport trucks. He received an honorable discharge from service on Nov. 20, 1946.

After serving, he returned to work at Vashon Sand and Gravel and the Vashon Theatre and continued there as the projectionist. He also worked for Pioneer Sand and Gravel.

In 1957, Mr. Calhoun began driving dump trucks all over the Puget Sound area on various construction and highway projects. He worked on the Tolt Dam, Sea Tac Airport, the Howard A. Hanson Dam and Interstate 5. He had some harrowing stories to tell of working on the building of the “new” bridges up on 1-90 near Snoqualmie Pass.

Mr. Calhoun moved to Seattle in 1970 and lived in West Seattle for the past 25 years. He enjoyed poker, Keno and cribbage, his trips to Reno, and a “spirited” debate.

Both of his parents and his brother John died earlier.

Survivors include his son Scott Calhoun and wife Christy of Vashon, son Ron Calhoun of Vashon, grandchildren Aaron, Chelsey and Justin Calhoun of Vashon, brothers Dick Calhoun of Vashon, Bob Calhoun of Huntsville, Ala., Les Calhoun of Bremerton, and Bill Calhoun of Centralia, Wash., and Esther Calhoun of Vashon.

At his request there will be no public service.

Private family services will be held at a later date.