Obituary of Rodney VanderVaart

Rodney passed away on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, at Peace Health St John Medical Center in Longview, WA. He was born on May 20, 1948 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Henry VanderVaart and Ida Guymon. He married Linda Kite in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1999. As an ‘army brat’ with his parents & two sisters, Rodney lived in Utah, Germany, Colorado & Washington. His ‘little sister’ Debra, still says you couldn’t have a better big brother. He graduated from Wilson High School in Tacoma, Washington, and soon after joined the U.S. Navy. He was the ship swimmer, & served two tours in Vietnam before being honorably discharged. He worked as a bartender in multiple establishments. Rod also learned welding, and became skilled at ornamental iron work. He then became a transit driver for King County Metro, operating the articulated buses, until he retired a few years ago. Rod rode motorcycles as a young man, but eventually fit his 6’6” body into extremely small cars, including one of the first generation Honda Civic’s sold in the U.S., and his last new “Smart Car.” He also enjoyed golf with his mother & sister Sue for many years, loved flowers and working in his gardens, fishing with his wife Linda, daughter Letisha, cousin Richard Hailslip & his wife Vicki. Rod was a member of Tacoma Elks for decades, a skilled billiards player, playing weekly there with his son Roderick and many long-time friends. He is survived by his loving wife, Linda (Ocean Shores, WA), son Roderick (Tacoma, WA), daughter Letisha (Tacoma, WA), and sister Debra Moore (Lacey, WA). He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister Sue Lynn. Please sign the guestbook and leave condolences at www.McCombWagner.com Arrangements are with MaComb & Wagner in Shelton, WA. 360-426-4803