A. Seth Joseph

(Andrios) Seth Joseph passed away peacefully, surrounded by friends and family on September 27, 2012 at Whatcom Hospice House, Bellingham, WA.

He fought the good fight for seven long years until cancer finally took him down. He died the way he lived, working hard at life and giving it everything he had until the lights went out.

He was born May 16, 1949 in Mosul, Iraq and immigrated to the United States in 1955. He was raised in Eastern Orthodox Catholicism where his father was a priest and Seth was his alter boy. He grew up in Modesto and Turlock, California and attended St. Mary’s Academy in Orange County, California. After that he lived most of his life in Bellingham.

He proudly served in the United States Army assigned to the demilitarized zone in South Korea where he experienced the devastation and horrors of combat; he spent the rest of his life being a pacifist. On Sept. 11, 2001, he grieved outwardly for the victims of terrorism in New York City and inwardly for his Assyrian family still in the old country (Iraq).

He was preceded in death by his mother, Sarah David Joseph and his father, Eshai Joseph. He is survived by his brothers Aebris Joseph of Bellington, Vermont and Emmanuel Joseph of Modesto California; his half brothers Mark Joseph and Paul Joseph of Stockton, California and his sister Helen White of Grove, Oklahoma and his partner of twelve years, Diane Wood of Bellingham, WA. He is the adopted dad of David Pierce (Susie Pierce), Jodi Powell (Gary Powell); his grandchildren La Queta Pierce, (Bob Fulkerson), Jaycob Powell, Jesse Powell; and his great grand-daughter Annabelle Fulkerson.

His loving devotion and care will be dearly missed by his FURRY four-footed children; Mercedes, his adoring German Shepard, and two kitties, Lightie and Sammie.

Seth was a dedicated operations manager at Lowe’s in Bellingham and Fairview, Oregon, earning the respect of co-workers with his professional, nose-to-the grindstone work ethics and company-man attitude; first to arrive and last to leave. His pet peeves were unprofessionalism and laziness. He loved baseball, especially the Seattle Mariners who received his undivided attention and passion during baseball season. He was a true renaissance man who appreciated the classics: beauty, a strong work ethic, family, style, good food, antiques, great writing, history, gardening and took great pride in being a curmudgeon.

A gathering to celebrate his life is tentatively scheduled for November 4th at a location to be announced. Memorial donation in Seth's memory can be made to Whatcom Hospice House.

A special thank you to his work family at Lowes, his brother of the heart, George Pulido (Julie Pulido), his aunt Deanna, and Whatcom Hospice House for the loving care and patience in his final weeks. Seth was a compassionate, classy man of conviction who will be dearly missed...