Ilah Charlotte Engom

Ilah Charlotte Engom passed away peacefully in Anacortes, WA on Saturday, April 1, 2017. She was 94 years of age. Ilah was born on Camano Island on November 1, 1922 to Ralph and Charlotte (Nelson) Lindsay. She attended school in Stanwood until her junior year of high school when the family moved to Whidbey Island because her father was offered a position as Island County Assessor. Ilah was a graduate of Coupeville High School and after graduation attended Edison Vocational School in Seattle.

Ilah was employed at a dry-cleaning shop in Port Townsend and Fort Casey Dry Cleaners in Coupeville, which she eventually purchased in 1941. It was around this time that she met and started dating Roy Engom who was an Army Sergeant stationed at Fort Casey. Love blossomed and they were married in Coupeville on December 13, 1942. Ilah and Roy sold the dry-cleaning business in 1944.

Married life took Ilah to numerous places throughout the years, including a tour in France. Traveling from post to post, the Engom family lived in Port Townsend, WA, Fort Winfield Scott, San Francisco, CA, Fort Ebey, WA, Fort Lewis, WA, and Fort Leonard, MO. After Roy retired in 1960 the family moved back home to Coupeville, WA. During this time of travel, the family added two new members, sons Roger and Rich.

Ilah loved her life as a homemaker and was a member and Past President of the Coupeville Homemakers Club, member and Past President of the Crescent Homemakers Club, and a member of the Oak Harbor Emblem Club #450. During her life time, she was also a member of the Camano Lutheran Church, Our Savior Lutheran Church in Stanwood and the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church.

Ilah was a lifetime RV traveler. She was a member of the Whid-Isle Good Sam Club and held the offices of President, Vice President, and Wagon Master as well as Past Assistant State Director of the Good Sam Club with her husband Roy. With Roy, she built a cabin East of Marblemount in the North Cascades where the family spent many an enjoyable weekend.

Ilah is survived by two sons, Richard of Palm Springs, CA, and Roger (Ramona) of Columbia, SC; four grandchildren, Sabrina Faircloth, Leon (Kathy) Engom of Columbia, SC, Andy (Crista) Engom of Anacortes, WA, and Rory (Heather) Engom of Arlington, WA; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Roy, in 2007, her parents Ralph and Charlotte, and a brother Warren Lindsay.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 3:00 pm at Wallin Funeral Home with Rev. John D. Green, Sr. officiating. A reception will follow. The family suggests memorials to Hospice of the Northwest, 227 Freeway Drive Ste A, Mt Vernon, WA 98273 or the Oak Harbor Emblem Club #450, PO Box 666, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.

Arrangements were entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home. To leave messages or condolences, please visit Ilah’s Book of Memories page on the funeral home website at www.wallinfuneralhome.com.

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