Obituary of Joseph P. Ordos

Joseph P. Ordos, a resident of Olympia since 1948, passed away on October 5, 2010. Joe was born in Cultus Lake, BC to John and Barbara (Cina) Ordos on March 3, 1913, the third of five children. The family moved to a farm outside Sumas, WA in 1916. Joe graduated from Sumas/Nooksack Valley High School in 1931, and 4 years later headed up to Juneau, AK where he worked several jobs, including a year at the A J Gold Mine. He then attended Wilson Business College in Seattle. Back up in Alaska by 1941, he began work at the Juneau Post Office. Drafted into the army three months later, he served as a staff sergeant at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, AK for 4 years. He married Mary Elizabeth Koch of Elma, WA, November 29, 1946 in Juneau. Fourteen months later he transferred down to the Olympia Post Office, retiring from there in 1974 as the chief accountant. Mary passed away in 1993. In 1994, Joe married Elizabeth (Rosch) Watkins.Joe enjoyed having a vegetable garden each year and traveling around to see new places. In his younger years, he enjoyed fishing and clam digging at the ocean, and while in Alaska, he found time for downhill skiing. He read all the Louis L'Amour books several times and especially enjoyed watching Seahawk and Mariner games, as well as the Notre Dame games, but only if they were winning. Joe was an active member of St. Michael Parish in Olympia for over 50 years, and active in the Legion of Mary for 42 years. He was also a member of the Benedictine Oblates, St. Placid Boosters, NARFE and a charter member of the Olympia Credit Union. Joe is survived by his wife Elizabeth (Liz) Ordos of Tumwater; his daughters, Jan Ordos of Lacey; Elizabeth Ordos (Mark Lamden) of Kirkland and grandson Miles; Pat Ordos (Leonard Hurst) of Olympia; and son, Ric Ordos (Karen) of Olympia and their children, Bernadette, Mary, Samantha, Grace, Brian and Jack. Joe is also survived by a sister, Barbara A. Johnson of Seattle, 3 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law; Liz's two sons, Al (Jean) Watkins, Jim (Lynn) Watkins and daughter,Sally Hopkins,and their families; and 18 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son Jim; brothers John and Mike, his sister Anne Horrocks, and a nephew, David Ordos. Please sign the guestbook and leave condolences by clicking on "View Guestbook" below.