Harry Albert Kettering

On June 18, 2010, Dr. Harry Albert Kettering, age 90, passed away peacefully after living a long, loved and loving active life. Born on September 9, 1919 in San Diego, Harry grew up in Seattle and attended Whittier, Lowell, Green Lake and Magnolia Elementary Schools and Queen Anne High School before his family moved to Portland, where he graduated from Lincoln High School. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1942 and from the University of Oregon Medical School in 1945. He served his internship as a Lieutenant (JG) at the US Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton and served as the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Chimaera in China. Harry completed his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Harborview Hospital in Seattle in 1950 and began a successful practice first in Seattle, and then, for over 30 years, on Mercer Island, Washington. Harry was held in high regard by his peers and his patients. He was devoted to his medical practice and took enormous delight in caring for his patients and bringing new lives into this world. He served as President of the Seattle Gynecological Society, was elected a Diplomat of the Washington State Obstetrical Association, was selected into membership of the Pacific Coast Obstetrics and Gynecological Society and was one of the pioneering OBs at Overlake Hospital. Over his career, Harry delivered many thousands of babies and often babies of the babies he delivered. He truly was a kind and caring physician. Harry loved the Pacific Northwest and all of the amenities and activities it has to offer. An avid sailor, water and snow skier, squash and tennis player, golfer and persistent tinkerer, Harry thoroughly enjoyed the nearly 40 years he lived on Mercer Island with the first love of his life and wife of 38 years, Mollie Kettering, and his three children, David, Katie and Mark. Following Mollie’s death in 1983, Harry found the second love of his life and married Jane Bigsby with whom he shared a wonderful life for over 25 years on Friday Island, in Palm Desert and finally back to Bellevue. Harry was blessed to have his family extended by Jane’s children, Tom, Terri Sue and Gregg, their children and grandchildren. He relished his life in the San Juan Islands and his beloved sailboat, The Stork. Harry always was optimistic, helpful, loyal and devoted to his family, friends and patients. He had a wonderful twinkle in his eye and a cute sense of humor. He is deeply loved by his family and he will be missed by friends and family alike.Harry was preceded in death by his wife Mary Alice (Mollie) Kettering and his two sisters Lucille Stone and Margie Olson. He is survived by his wife, Jane M. Kettering, his three children, David Kettering, Katie (Bob) Campbell and Mark (Wendy) Kettering, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and by his three step-children Tom (Lorna) Bigsby, Terri Sue (Dan) Wruck and Greg (Beth) Bigsby, five step-grandchildren and four step-great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be sent to Bellevue Young Life, 14150 NE 20th Street, F-1 #345, Bellevue, WA 98007. There will be a memorial service for Dr. Harry A. Kettering at 2:00 pm on June 29, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, 1717 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004.