Wilford Henry Blain, age 65

Wilford Henry Blain died Oct. 29 at home on Bainbridge Island with his family by his side after a five-year battle with cancer. He was 65.

Wil was born May 12, 1944, in San Diego, to Wilford Hoyett and Bonnie Lou Blain. He met his wife-to-be, Lynda Killingsworth, in high school geometry class. They were married in 1964.

He graduated from Mission Bay High School in 1962 and San Diego City College in 1965, with a degree in business. Wil moved his family to Bainbridge Island in 1977.

While in California, Wil began what would be a long and successful career in the construction industry. He began as a carpenter, working his way up to foreman and project superintendent. Over the past two decades, he ran numerous multi-million dollar commercial construction projects, including the extensive remodel of St. James Cathedral in Seattle and several complex bio-tech research facilities in or near Seattle. In 2006, his employer, Lease Crutcher Lewis, created the Wil Blain Mentorship Award, to honor his contributions to fostering talent and mentoring employees at the company. He retired in 2006.

Wil loved to hunt, fish, camp and shoot trap. He was a regular at the Bainbridge Island Sportsmen’s Club, where in recent years he enjoyed Friday morning trap shoots with other retirees and his son, Wesley. He also enjoyed tinkering with, or building, engines.

Wil was preceded in death by his parents Wilford and Bonnie.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Lynda; son Michael Blain and daughter-in-law Julie; daughter Shelley Reimer and son-in-law David; daughter Kimberly Cole and son-in-law Jeremy; son Wesley Blain and daughter-in-law Amber; grandchildren, Leo and Sadie Blain, Ashley and Jaden Cole, Djemilah Birnie, and Jordan and Emily Reimer; sister Wanda Taylor and husband Dave; nieces Kathy Anderson and Anita Mason; and nephew Chuck Taylor.

Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of his life from 2-4 p.m. Nov. 29 at Island Church, 9624 Sportsman Club Road. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, www.multiplemyeloma.org. An online guest book is at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.