Jack P. Scholfield was born on January 4, 1920, and passed peacefully just shy of his 95th birthday, on December 11, 2014 at 2 pm in the presence of his immediate family.

Jack grew up and attended public schools, including high school and Junior College in Fort Scott, Kansas. He received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg, Kansas in 1941.

After working a short time for the Retail Credit Company in Kansas City and Joplin, Missouri, he enlisted in the Naval Flying Cadet program in November 1941, and reported for active duty on December 18, 1941 at Fairfax Field, Kansas City, Kansas. From there he went to Pensacola, FL for additional training and was certified a Naval Aviator on September 21, 1942.

Jack flew a Gruman Avenger (torpedo bomber) with Air Group VC 38 in the Solomon Islands campaigns and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for skip bombing and sinking a Japanese freighter in Simpson Harbor, Rabaul on February 17, 1944. Jack joined VF(N) 91 in the fall of 1944, retrained as a Night Fighter pilot and few an F6F5(n) while his squadron was attached to the aircraft carrier, Bon Homme Richard, flying numerous combat air patrols and strafing missions at night until the end of WWII.

Jack entered the University of Washington School of Law on January 2, 1946 and graduated in June of 1948. He served as a Business Manager of the Washington Law Review for the academic year 1947-1948. Jack often spoke of his law school days and acquaintances made there as among his life’s most enjoyable experiences. He commenced the practice of law with George Guttormsen and was later a partner in Guttormsen, Scholfield, Willits and Ager. The firm name was later changed to Scholfield and Stafford, and was until recently Stafford Frey Cooper.

Jack was appointed to the King County Superior Court by Gov. Dixie Lee Ray and was sworn in on September 30, 1977. He was elected to the State Court of Appeals and commenced service in that Court in 1982. He served two six-year terms, retiring in January 1995. While on the Superior Court he served as Presiding Judge for one year. He served a term of two years as Chief Judge of Division One of the Court of Appeals.

During his years of law practice, he became involved in Seattle-King County and State Bar activities, serving on numerous committees and was elected and served a term as President of the Seattle-King Co. Bar Association in 1971-1972. He was elected a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1972.

In keeping with his interest in law and community affairs, Jack served on the Board of Trustees and as President of the Mercerwood Shore Club. He was the first president of the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers in 1962-1963. He also served the Executive Corps of Washington as a volunteer consultant and as a member of the Board of Directors from 1996-2000.

After retiring from the Court of Appeals in January 1995, Jack joined the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service, serving as a mediator and arbitrator until June 30, 2011.

Commencing in 2001, he served as volunteer attorney with the Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) conducting legal clinics designed to give legal advice and guidance to low income families, and in 2003 was named its Volunteer Attorney of the year. He was elected to the ELAP Board of Trustees in January 2004. Jack also served on the Washington State Bar Association Pro Bono and Legal Aid committee for two terms commencing on October 1, 2002.

Judge Scholfield was justifiably proud of the published summary of his rating as a Superior Court Judge by lawyers of the Seattle-King County Bar Association in 1980, which read:

“Very high. Among top two judges in court conduct and judicial temperament. Ranks among the top three in legal understanding, issue resolution, decision quality and impartiality. Third in overall performance.”

Jack met his wife, Lucille Templeton, in El Centro, CA, while his squadron was stationed there in the summer of 1943 for experimental night flying work. They were married in the Memorial Presbyterian Church, West Palm Beach, FL on July 18, 1944. They had two sons, James and Donald. Donald died of cancer in September 1980, and James lives with his wife Margaret Booker in Los Gatos, CA where he is employed as an engineer with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Jack is also survived by a granddaughter, Samantha Scholfield, a graduate of UCLA. Jack was preceded in death by his sister, Ruth Bloodworth, his mother LuLynn Scholfield and his father John P. Scholfield. Jack is interred next to his son Donald and his wife of 70 years, Lucille, at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Bellevue.

Jack had a lifelong interest in history and especially enjoyed reading about the Civil War and WWII. He was an avid golfer and was a member of the Men’s Club at Bellevue Municipal Gold Club and Public Links Seniors of Washington for many years. He and his late wife, Lucille, also enjoyed tennis and were members of the Bellevue Club. Jack and Lucille were members of the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church since 1958.

Jack’s favorite scripture:

“He has told you, O Mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8

Remembrances may be sent to Wounded Warriors, the Alzheimer’s Association and/or Providence Hospice of Seattle. A celebration of Jack’s life will be held on Friday January 9, 2015 in the courtyard room at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church from 1P-4P.