James Sargent Eastman

James Sargent Eastman, 54, passed away peacefully at home on July 9, 2008, after a long illness. He was born October 9, 1953, to Robert and Teddy Eastman at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia.

Jim grew up in Bremerton, WA; Quantico, VA; Agana, Guam; Great Lakes, IL; and Camp Pendleton, CA. He graduated from Fallbrook High School in 1972 and attended the US Naval Academy at Annapolis for nearly a year when he fell ill and had to leave. After he recuperated, he went on to the University of Washington in Seattle and became a professional engineer.

After graduation, he worked with the Department of Forestry in Forks, WA. Then he went to work with the Department of Transportation in Vancouver, WA, and later in Olympia, WA. He was instrumental in the building of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. His tenure with WADOT extended to 29 years.

Jim met and married his sweetheart, Wendy Moore Johnson, in 2003. They married in Sunriver, OR, where they had a resort home, and they lived in Ridgefield, WA.

Jim is survived by his wife Wendy; mother Teddy Eastman; brother Tom Eastman; sisters Nancy Burrill, Kay Seiden and Susan Eastman; and stepson D.J. Johnson.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at New Heights Church in Vancouver on Saturday, July 19, at 11 a.m.

“Jim, you will be forever in our hearts.”