Obituary of Jay Wilson Bollman
Jay Wilson Bollman, beloved husband, father and friend, passed away peacefully with family by his side, after a short, non-Covid illness. Jay was the first born of Presbyterian missionary parents (Ben & Elsie) in Manila, Philippine Islands, December, 1935. His family endured the trials of World War II, being imprisoned twice. Jay’s family was fortunate to be rescued by the U.S. Armed Forces from a Japanese internment camp at Los Banos on February 23, arriving at San Pedro, CA in early May, 1945. Jay started public school in fourth grade while living near relatives in Bremerton, WA.
Jay is survived by his wife Louise; two sons, Kenneth (Jimi Couture), and Eric (Ginger); five grandchildren Angela (Jacob), Garrett (Mikayla), Elizabeth, James and Jessica; great grandson Marc; and his younger brother, Lynn (Mimi).
Louise and Jay met at Maryville College (TN) in 1956, and married on June 12, 1959, in Winter Haven, FL. Jay was a Presbyterian minister for 5 years after graduating from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1961. He served a dual parish in North Dakota, then a larger parish as co-minister of four churches in rural northwest Pennsylvania. He returned to school to earn his MSW at the University of Michigan in 1969. He worked in many social work related jobs: a center director for Inter-Faith Centers for Racial Justice, Royal Oak, MI; Wayne County Dept of Social Services, Detroit, MI; State of Oregon Children's Services Division and Adult Services out of Corvallis and Salem, Oregon; Geriatric social worker, Wesley Homes, Des Moines, WA, from which he retired in 2001.
Jay and Louise loved to travel by car across the U.S., as well as to journey to a few overseas destinations. They spent more than 60 years tent camping. Being with family and friends was always a special treat. Keeping moving physically was a daily goal.
In retirement Jay & Louise were active with Ground Zero Center for Non-Violent Action (Kitsap County, WA) through 2015. Jay served on the Board of the DuPont Historical Society from 2008 to 2012.
A Celebration of Life Service is scheduled for 2:00pm on Saturday, May 14th, 2022, at West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Portland, Oregon. Donations can be made to: ACLU, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Oregon Parks Forever, West Hills UU Fellowship, and Five Oaks Museum.
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