Terry Van Eaton
Terry Van Eaton
July 15, 2024
Terry Van Eaton went home to Jesus on July 15, 2024, at age 86. Born in Tacoma to John and Elsie (Boettcher) Van Eaton in 1938, he grew up in and around Eatonville, the town named after his grandfather, T.C. Van Eaton. He attended elementary school in Alder and graduated from Eatonville High School in 1956. In 1961, Terry graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Washington and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army.
He married Sharon Nechanicky in 1961, and they honeymooned by driving his new Corvette to his first Army duty station: Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. From there, he went to the Chambersburg (Pennsylvania) Army Depot until his discharge in 1963.
Upon his return to Eatonville, Terry joined his father's business, Van Eaton Chevrolet, and dedicated himself to its success. His hard work and commitment eventually led him to take over and operate the company for 37 years until his retirement in 2000. Terry’s time in Pennsylvania sparked an interest in antiques, which he and Sharon turned into a successful venture: Founding Family Antiques in Eatonville. This year, the shop celebrated its 60th year of operations, a testament to Terry's entrepreneurial spirit.
Terry's unwavering compass of personal faith guided his full and active life. He served as an elder of Eatonville Baptist Church for 40 years, financially supported missionaries and Christian charities, and started Eatonville Young Life in 1972. For his contributions, Young Life honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
His life was replete with examples of service to his hometown: He was an active member of the Eatonville Lions Club, serving as President in 1970 and launching the Eatonville Arts Festival. He served on the Ohop Mutual Light Company Board of Directors from 1977-1982. As president of the board, he navigated the utility through the WPPSS debacle. He regularly supported the local school through donations and paid advertising. Most notably, Terry started the Senior Surprise trip for graduating high school students in 1978. In 2013, he received the Eatonville High School Alumni Distinguished Service Award.
Terry’s business ethics were unsurpassed, and his reputation for honest dealing brought customers from all over the region - even Alaska and Hawaii - to purchase cars and trucks from Van Eaton Chevrolet. He loaned vehicles to missionaries on furlough and sold step vans to Christian organizations at a loss. These vans were then converted into medical units for use in developing countries. His love of the antique business complemented his life-long passion for the study of history. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of vintage toys and railroad artifacts, delighting his customers with anecdotes, demonstrations, and little-known facts.
Throughout his life, Terry's love for music, especially singing, was a source of joy for him and those around him. He was a leader of the University of Washington Glee Club, actively participated in the Eatonville High School Music Boosters, and sang on the Eatonville Baptist Church worship team. His love for music was just one of the many facets of his vibrant personality. He was a world traveler, an avid skier, pilot, and mountain climber who summited Mount Rainier. He loved his garden, landscaping his home with beautiful trees, flowers, and shrubs.
Terry's love and commitment to his family were unwavering. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sharon Van Eaton, and their children: Susan, Joy (Kirby Nelson), Justin (Laura Barnhart), and Amy (Dr. Paul Williams); grandchildren: Liliana (Nelson) Zaleski, Mia, Isabelle, and Scott Snyder, Ben, Noah, Matthew, and Ashleigh Williams and two great-grandchildren: Clara and John Zaleski. He leaves his three younger siblings, Patrick Van Eaton, Dr. Thomas Van Eaton, and Margaret Neyman. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Joan Jordan.
A memorial service will be held at Eatonville Baptist Church on Saturday, August 17, at 2:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to Eatonville Baptist Church and designated to support missionaries Lee and Soua Isom, Jack Moore's college outreach, or the vacation Bible school scholarship fund.