Frank Zurline

9/5/1924 – 12/14/2010
Moose Zurline, age 86 passed away Dec. 14, 2010 in Bellingham after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.  He was born September 5, 1924 and has been a lifetime resident of Bellingham. He grew up in Happy Valley and in his early years worked as a commercial fisherman. Moose attended Western Washington University, where he played football and basketball. His education and athletic career was interrupted by WWII, when he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served under General Patton in Europe.
After the war Moose returned to WWU, where he completed his degree in Education and continued his athletic career. After graduating, Moose passed up an invitation to try out with the L.A. Rams and continued to commercial fish. Moose was proud to be a founding director of the Bellingham Boys and Girls Club in 1946. On July 17, 1947 he married his sweetheart Viola Fisher at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bellingham. His first job out of college was teaching at Edison Elementary School under his mentor Jim Costanti.  He also worked with Al McNeill at Bellingham Hardware, owned his own appliance store, worked with Red Haskell and Chuck Wilder, and later sold industrial refuse incinerators nationwide.
Throughout the years Moose and Vi took the time to travel the world as the owners of Bellingham Travel & Cruise.   Among Moose’s many awards and achievements was his induction into the WWU Athletic Hall of Fame, being honored as the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year, and receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Boys and Girls Club of Whatcom County. Moose was a high school and collegiate football official for over 40 years.  He was also a founding member of the Fairhaven Lions Club. Moose had a positive attitude and an unlimited enthusiasm for life.  He had a terrific sales ability and was a “Master of B.S.”  Moose was always a happy person who loved others and they loved him back.
He was a caretaker of goodwill and a mentor to many. Moose was preceded in death by his mother Marie Scott, step-father Jack Scott, uncle George Hunsby and his wife Ruth, sister-in-law Grace Weis and son-in-law Woody Wutzen  He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Vi, daughter Nancy Wutzen, son Frank (wife Christine) and their daughter Abby, brother-in-law Bud Weis and a loving extended family.
Memorials may be made to the Zurline Athletic Scholarship Endowment, c/o Western Foundation, 516 High St., Old Main #430, B’ham, WA  98225, or the Boys and Girls Club of Whatcom County, 1715 Kentucky St., B’ham, WA 98229. A Funeral Service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday, December 21st at 11 AM followed by a reception in the Great Hall.