Charles Levi (Chuck or CL) Divelbiss, 87, died Monday August 27, 2018 at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle due to multiple medical complications and cancer.
Chuck leaves his son, and long-time business partner in St. Charles Place Antiques, Charles G. Divelbiss, his daughter Susan Marie (Ron) Munroe of Snohomish; his son John David (Amy) Divelbiss and his daughter Terrie Teigland (Wayne) March, both of Salem, Oregon, as well as 8 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Charles was born in Casper, Wyoming on May 23, 1931, the son of Benjamin and Agnes Divelbiss. He was raised in and around Puyallup, and his brother, Don and sister, Rosalie still reside in the Puyallup area. Charles graduated from Sumner High School in 1949. He went on to attend the University of Washington and graduated from the University Of Washington School Of Medicine in 1957. Charles practiced as a family practitioner and general surgeon in Renton, Washington until his retirement and was the first Chief of Staff at Valley General Hospital in Renton.
Chuck enjoyed being an active Rotarian and past President of Renton Rotary. He was instrumental in helping create “CAPER”, a Rotary charitable auction that supports youth and community programs. He also enjoyed helping to establish the first “Rubber Ducky Derby” held each year at the Renton River Days.
Medicine was Dr. Divelbiss’s professional vocation but his secret passion was for “building” – anything from toy boxes to picture frames, from inventing gadgets and gizmos that make things function to large scale projects such as building a vacation home in Oak Harbor and a 15,000 sq. ft. home atop a secluded Arizona mountain overlooking Wickenburg. The Arizona property was built over a 10 year period using many repurposed architectural elements that make it a truly unique desert home, reflecting his life filled with eclectic personal individualism. He will be missed by his family and the many friends he made over the course of a full and ambitious life.
Memorial services will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park – 350 Monroe Avenue NE, Renton, WA on Saturday, October 6th at 2:00.
Donations in his memory can be made to Renton Rotary, P.O. Box 509, Renton, WA 98057.
