Edward Dominick Hames

Edward (Ed) Dominick Hames, 99, passed away on September 20, 2025 in Olympia Washington. He is survived by sister Sarah (Jim), son David (Joanne), daughter Ruth (Andy), granddaughters Robin and Joy and many nieces and nephews. Ed was born on February 9, 1926 in Helena Montana to Peter and Ethel Hames and had four siblings; Peter, Lew, Sarah and Dan. He spent most of his childhood in Helena, with several years homesteading near Power, Montana. After graduating from high school in 1943, Ed served in the US Navy as a radioman in a Beachmaster unit in the Pacific Theater during WWII. After the war, he attended college and graduated with a BA in Business Administration from the University of Montana. Returning to Helena, he met and married Doris Seel in 1951, sharing over 62 years of marriage until her passing in 2013.

Ed began his professional journey with a brief stint at Montana Power in Helena. Driven by a fascination with electronics and the exciting new world of television, he ventured to Indiana and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from Valparaiso Technical Institute. Returning to Montana, Ed worked at a radio station in Missoula before embarking on a 34-year career at the Boeing Company. He started with test flights for the B-52 program in Moses Lake, Washington. His work expanded to the Minuteman missile program, taking the family to sites across the western United States. In 1967, Ed transferred to the Seattle area, working as a personnel manager at Boeing’s Renton and Seattle commercial airplane manufacturing plants.

Ed was a devoted husband, who lovingly cared for Doris during her long illness with Parkinson’s. He was also a loving father, proud grandfather, and caring uncle. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, curling, ham radio, beekeeping, and birding, and traveled extensively with Doris, participating in elder hostels and the Boeing travel club. He volunteered helping people learning English as a second language. He was an active member of the Lutheran church, and he and Doris made annual trips to help at Holden Village, a Lutheran retreat near Lake Chelan.

Ed had an extraordinary gift for connecting with people. Outgoing, warm, and deeply caring, he touched countless lives with his smile, humor, and thoughtful attention to others. His generosity of spirit and love for people defined his life. He had the ability to make everyone around him feel valued and he took a genuine interest in others. Family, friends, and even strangers experienced his care and attentiveness. He always looked for ways to brighten someone’s day, never missing a chance to offer help, encouragement, or friendship. Ed’s warmth, friendliness, and caring nature left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He was a remarkable man who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 18th at the Prosperity Grange, 3701 Steamboat Island Road NW, Olympia 98502. Memorial donations may be made to Wild Montana or the charity of your choice.