Celebrating a centenarian

Published 2:03 pm Thursday, July 24, 2014

Reporter staff

Family and friends threw a surprise 100th birthday party for Ralph “Phil” Abbenhouse in Kent last Saturday.

“I feel fine. Still working on my first million (dollars),” Abbenhouse quipped. “101 … that’s next.”

Abbenhouse grew up in Western Washington, graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, worked in the radiation laboratory at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology during World War II and fulfilled a long career as an engineer, 20 years of which were spent at The Boeing Co.

He and Lois Armstrong were married for 63 years until her death in 2005. They raised two daughters, Linda and Julie. He has four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Abbenhouse enjoys spending time with family, woodworking and boating. He carved his own 16-foot powerboat that he frequently drove on Lake Washington. He also built a family cabin at Summit Lake.

When asked if there were any secrets to his longevity, Abbenhouse replied, “Carrots, green beans and potatoes.”