Hugh Fleetwood

03/18/1930-07/17/2011
Hugh Fleetwood, age 81, passed away peacefully at his Bellingham home on July 17, 2011 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was born March 18, 1930 in Grayling, MI to Arthur and Dorothy Fleetwood. Hugh grew up in Beulah, MI on the shores of Crystal Lake. After graduating from Benzonia High School in 1948 Hugh attended the University of Michigan. He interrupted his education to join the Army and served as an officer in Korea during the Korean War. Following his military service he returned to Ann Arbor to complete his Bachelor’s Degree. He briefly attended Yale Divinity School before returning to Ann Arbor to earn his Ph.D. in Philosophy. He married Julie Bowles in 1956 in Detroit, MI. Hugh and Julie moved to Bellingham in 1962 where he began teaching in the Philosophy Department at WWU. Hugh was an active member of the community, including serving 16 years on the Board of the Interfaith Coalition (4 years as Board President). He was a lifetime member of the ACLU (3 years as WA State Board President), served on the Vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and on the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for PeaceHealth Hospitals. Hugh had many interests, including gardening, backpacking and mountain climbing, cooking and winemaking, traveling, reading, and listening to classical music. Hugh was preceded in death by brothers Larry and Carl and sisters Patti and Lorna Joanne. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Julie, son Seth Fleetwood, daughter Amy Fleetwood and her daughters Sarita and Martha and their father Craig Bradshaw, brother Bernard Fleetwood, and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Westford Funeral Home from 3-5 p.m. on Friday, July 22. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 2 PM on Saturday, July 23rd. A reception will follow at the church. Memorials in Hugh’s name may be made to the Interfaith Coalition, Whatcom Hospice, Whatcom Community Foundation or the WWU Foundation.

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