Obituary of Harold Samuel Zimmerman

Harold 'Hal" S. Zimmerman Harold 'Hal' Sam Zimmerman died Aug. 4, 2011. He was 88. He was born June 1, 1923, in Valley City, N.D., to Dr. Samuel and Lulu Wylie Zimmerman. When his father suddenly passed away during Hal's sophomore year of high school, he took on part-time work as a sport's reporter and circulation manager for the Valley City Hi-Liner and still graduated valedictorian of his class. Because his mother could not drive, Hal packed up all their belongings after high school graduation and drove the family car with his mother to join his two brothers in Seattle and begin his college education at the University of Washington. Interrupted by World War II, Hal joined the U.S. Air Corps in Laredo, Texas, and returned after the war to finish his bachelor's degree in journalism at the U of W. It was in journalism class where he met his future wife, Julianne Williams. Married in 1946, he then took his first job as a reporter in Sedro Wooley, Wash. His daughter, Karen, was born April 8, 1948. In 1950, Hal and Judy purchased their first newspaper in Castle Rock: the Cowlitz County Advocate. His son, Steve, was born Aug. 4, 1950. His daughter, Judi Jean, was born May 6, 1953 but was tragically murdered in Mexico in 1981. In 1957, Hal and Judy purchased the Camas-Washougal Post-Record, a newspaper he operated for 23 years. He became very involved in many community organizations and eventually was elected to the State House of Representatives in 1966. In 1980, Hal was elected to the State Senate where he served until 1988. After retiring from the legislature, he was appointed by the governor as a judge on the Pollution Control Hearings Board. In 1993, Hal retired early from the board to return home to help raise his 3-year-old grandson, Brian. Hal was very active in the United Methodist Church and Young Life. Hal and Judy loved to travel and visited more than 87 countries in the world. Judy died after 64 years of marriage on Oct. 16, 2010. Above all, Hal loved to help people in any way he could. He never tired of listening to people's needs and then networking to help find solutions. He truly had a servant's heart. Hal is survived by his brother, Wayne; son and daughter; and six grandchildren, David, Kevin, Brittney, Brian, Brooke and Hannah. A service of celebration will be held Friday, Aug. 26, at 1 p.m., at Grace Foursquare Church, 717 S.E. Everett Road, Camas, WA 98607. Memorial donations can be made to a proposed memorial gazebo project by calling Eunice Abrahamsen at 834-3622 or to the Camas High School choir at 841 N.E. 22nd Ave., Camas, WA 98607