Patricia Ellen (Baker) Oltman, 94, of Shelton, Washington, died on February 25, 2026 having lived a truly

wonderful life. She will be remembered for her love of family, quiet strength and resolve, courage, strong

work ethic, enjoyment of a good laugh with family and friends and a great curiosity about ideas and

those she met.

Pat was born May 3, 1931 in Seattle to Paul Elton and Louise (Thompson) Baker. She grew up in West

Seattle before the family moved to Shorewood on the Sound in the Burien area. Pat was quite athletic

and was Seattle’s All City third baseman during her younger school years. She graduated from Highline

High School in 1949. She then attended Edison Technical School in Seattle and worked 1 1/2 yrs. as a

stenographer, earning her way to Washington State College. Pat pledged to Pi Beta Phi sorority at WSC

making numerous close friends that she has cherished since. While at WSC she met her husband,

Richard M. Oltman of Shelton. They married August 26, 1951 and their partnership of nearly 66 years

took them, not only around the world but on many adventures. Pat worked as a secretary in the

engineering department until Dick’s graduation from WSC. Dick’s career as an army officer began with

their first move to Fort Benning GA. When Dick was called to Korea, Pat moved back home to Seattle

where she worked as an administrative secretary at Boeing Field. The next assignment took them to

Okinawa, Japan. While in Okinawa, she learned how to live life in a quonset hut, where their son,

Richard Jr. was born (1955). A year later, Dick’s next assignment was to teach at Niagara University,

Niagara, NY., where they welcomed their daughter, Christine. Until Dick’s retirement in 1972, Pat

acquired a great deal of proficiency at re-locating, usually with just weeks of notice, from one part of the

country to another and to Germany. Pat not only kept her family moving forward, but she also was busy

raising the kids, functioning as a single parent while Dick served two tours in Viet Nam. She considered it

a great accomplishment that none of their pets were accidently moved from one location to another in a

box on a moving van! Retirement from the Armed Forces brought them back to Shelton, which became

their permanent home. They purchased Shelton Travel Agency in 1972, putting down deep roots in the

community just as Dick’s parents, Rudy and Ada Oltman had. Pat achieved advanced accreditation as a

Certified Travel Agent. Benefits of being an agency owner were the wonderful clients she came to know

and continuing to have travel opportunities to places she loved around the world. Dick and Pat retired

after 20 years in the travel agency and became snow birds to Tubac, AZ.

Pat’s work and volunteer experiences were many and included retail work, modeling, secretarial work,

girl scout leadership, and hosting a weekly, half hour talk show on the Armed Forces network while in

Germany called “Between Us Gals.” Additionally, she loved playing golf (with some success as an

amateur in tournaments). She loved swimming, sewing and needlework (donating many baby quilts to

MGH auxillary). She was an avid reader and belonged to book clubs. Pat loved working in the garden and

participating in garden clubs and church. She was in Zonta, served on the board of Peninsula Credit

Union and was part of a finance group. She supported Mason County Historical Society and was

particularly proud of supporting Kid’s Day at Oysterfest.

Most of all, Pat loved her family. She was a great supporter of their aspirations. She encouraged her

husband to realize Oysterfest into the great community project it is. She was so proud of their son Rick,

who built boats and fishes the waters of Alaska for salmon, successfully launching his business of many

years, Cape Cleare Fishery. She loved that her daughter Christine, became a 3rd generation Cougar when

she attended WSU College of Veterinary Medicine (It gave her a great excuse to come and watch the

Apple Cup in Pullman.) She was very proud of her granddaughter Hannah, who has become a music

therapist (and practiced on her grandma).

Pat is predeceased by her husband Richard, her parents, Paul and Louise Baker and her step sister-in-law,

Joyce Sheets. She is survived by her brother, Michael Baker and his wife Sharon, her son, Richard M.

Oltman Jr., her daughter Christine (Oltman) Appleyard, her son-in-law, Robert F. Appleyard,

granddaughter Hannah Yanfang Appleyard, sister-in-law Margaret (Oltman) Roser, brother-in-law Jean

Sheets and wife Nancy, and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

A memorial service to honor Pat’s life will be Saturday, March 28, 2026, 11 AM, Shelton Presbyterian

Church, 1430 E. Shelton Springs Rd., Shelton WA 98584. Interment will be at Tahoma National Cemetery

in a private ceremony. Arrangements are made through McComb and Wagner Funeral Home, Shelton.

The family wishes to express deep appreciation for the caregivers at Alpine Way Continuing Care

Community for the kindness, respect and love they gave Pat during the final challenging months of her

life.

Memorial gifts in honor of Pat can be made to Shelton Presbyterian Church, PO Box 2510, Shelton WA

98584