Carl Gene Tewalt

Carl “Gene” Tewalt passed away on January 3rd, 2023, at the age of 91. He was the first born son to parents Carl Raymond Tewalt and Bernice Doris Kitterman in Dayton, WA on September 29th 1931. He lived in various cities around the northwest until he settled in Spokane, WA for the last four decades.   He passed peacefully with his family by his side as he took his final breaths. He was courageous and strong in his fight to live a long and happy life.

An intelligent and brave man, Gene joined the army in 1950 at the age of 19, a few months after the Korean War began. He became a sergeant instructor of heavy and medium anti-aircraft artillery and received a letter of appreciation for his exemplary devotion to duty. He also spent a year and three months over seas and was honorably discharged in late 1953, after the war had ended.

In addition to the military, Gene had a career in logging with his father. The duo also ran a small tavern in St. Mary’s, ID, where they lived. A strong desire to help others eventually led Gene to become a social worker in Aging and Adult Services where he licensed adult family homes. He earned his Master of Social Work from Eastern Washington University in 1998 and retired from WA Dept of Social and Health Services in 2001. 

91 years of life is difficult to sum up in a couple of paragraphs, but Gene was the consummate selfless individual. He was generous and caring and loved working hard, traveling, fishing, rooting for his favorite sports teams like Gonzanga, Seahawks and EWU Eagles. He started dating Michelle Cotton in 1990 and they married in 1998, where he gained a step daughter, Maria Cone.  

Carl Gene Tewalt is preceded in death by his sister, Carol Ann Tewalt, in 1973.  He is survived by his sisters, Betty (Johnny) Eaton, Beverly Ratcliffe, Vickie (Dick) Eslick, Mary (Mike) King, and Vera Tewalt, his brothers Max and Zane Tewalt, his stepdaughter and husband, Derek and Maria Cone, his grandchildren, Ladon and Brooklyn Cone, his in-laws, Karl and Lisa Franzmann and Bill Cadwallader and his dear friends, Royal Cadwallader and Setsuko Thompson.

A Viewing is scheduled at Hennessey Valley Funeral Home and Crematory, 1315 N. Pines Rd, on Monday, January 16 beginning at 2 p.m. followed by a Vigil and Rosary  at 5p.m.  The Funeral Mass will be held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 503 N. Walnut Rd, on January 17 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a 12:30 p.m. Committal with Military Honors at Pines Cemetery, 1402 S Pines Rd, Spokane Valley. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St John Vianney Catholic Church or the local branch of the Knights of Columbus. To share memories of Carl and leave condolences for the family, please visit Carl's Tribute Wall.