DAVID DEVORE BILLINGS

David Devore Billings, 88, passed away August 31 at Careage of Whidbey. He was born July 12, 1921, in Redlands, CA, to Owen and Martha Billings. He graduated from Redlands University and joined the US Navy, attending Midshipmen Training at Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. As a Ltjg, he was sent to the Pacific theater during World War II. Upon returning home, he entered UCLA and received a degree in chemistry and also met and married Eileen Cox there in 1948. They moved to Seattle, where he worked for Pemberthy Instruments, and then to Glass Containers Corp. in Huntington Park, later going to Modesto, CA to work for Galio Glassware. He then took a job with the FMC Lab our of Colorado School of Mines Research Institute in Golden, CO, where they lived for 35 years, and raised their four sons. He became a consultant to the Hanford Nuclear Corp., working on finding the correct mixture of glass to store the radioactive material indefinitely. Later he formed DD Billings to supply raw materials to the glass industry, but a heart attack forced him to leave Colorado to seek lower elevations. He and Eileen came to Coupeville in 1997. Dave shared his love of nature with his sons, taking them on camping, fishing and rock hunting trips, and was a devoted father. He was an active member of the Oak Harbor Senior Center Rock Club and the Pandorans. In 2001, while fishing at Ebey’s Landing, David went into cardiac arrest. Several Navy men from Oak Harbor performed CPR for 45 minutes and saved his life.

David is survived by his brother, Mark of El Cerrito, CA; his wife Eileen of Coupeville; sons Craig of Everett; Bruce of Trinidad, CO; Scott of Seattle and Keith of Portland, OR; and one granddaughter, Hillary of San Jose, CA. In keeping with his wishes, no services will be held. Family and friends are encouraged to sign the online guest register at www.whidbeymemorial.com. Arrangements are with the assistance of Whidbey Memorial Funeral and Cremation Service, Inc., 746 NE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor.

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