Honorio Fortin, age 87, died suddenly on January 17, 2015 at Island Hospital, Anacortes. He was born June 23, 1927 in San Felipe, Zambales, Philippines to Juaquin and Damiana Fortin. He grew up on the family farm in the Philippines.

As a young man, Honorio enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1945. His first duty station was Hawaii for two years. He returned to the Philippines where he was married to Gregoria Firme. He and Gregoria began their family which grew to three children, but Honorio was sent to sea and his family remained behind. Honorio was a culinary specialist with the Navy.

Honorio was then sent to the states where he was assigned to Naval Station Alameda, CA. From there he went to NAS Whidbey where he was stationed aboard the USS Salisbury Sound, a seaplane tender based at the Seaplane Base. He later went on to become executive chef for Captain Beecher Snipes at NAS Whidbey. He served his county for 26 years, retiring in 1965. Following retirement he worked as a bartender at the Officer’s Club at NAS Whidbey and continued his education by attending Skagit Valley College, earning his certification in Marine Maintenance Technology.

Honorio enjoyed playing bingo. He has a passion for fishing, and loved action and classic movies. He was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars-Whitehead Muzzall Post 7392, the Knights of Columbus-John E. O’Brien Council #3361 and was one of the founding members of the Fil-Am Association.

Honorio is survived by his wife Gregoria at the family home, three children: Rolly Fortin of San Felipe, Zambales, Philippines, Ernesto Fortin of Desert Hot Springs, CA, and Honorio Fortin, Jr. of Oak Harbor. He is also survived by grandchildren, Tamara (Daryn) Ingram, Emily Fortin, James Fortin, Michelle Rocha and Nicole Moore and great-grandchildren: Jasper, Seth, Tiffany, and Asjia.

Funeral Mass for Honorio Fortin will be celebrated at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Oak Harbor on Monday, January 26, 2015 at 9:00am with Rev. Paul Pluth, J.C.L. as Celebrant. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 25 from 3-6 pm at Wallin Funeral Home. As part of the visitation on Sunday, Recitation of the Rosary will be conducted at 3:30 pm. Interment will follow at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA at 11:00 am on Tuesday, January 27.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home. To share messages or condolences, please visit Honorio’s Book of Memories page on the funeral home website at www.wallinfuneralhome.com.

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