George Sr final resting place: Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery,
Seattle, King County, Washington George Robert Salisbury Sr was born to George Nelson Salisbury and Lila "Nana" Pearl (née White) Salisbury on Dec 14, 1904. Three siblings issued from this union:

• Mary Margaret Salisbury Rogers (1933-2015)
• Elizabeth Anne Salisbury Gering (1935-)
• George Robert Salisbury Jr (1941 - )

Though not much is remembered or recorded of his childhood, George grew up in Seattle. One thing that ties him to the city and affected his life markedly is an accident that occurred when he was 13. Visiting Seattle's Smith Tower, George somehow managed to fall down an elevator shaft, shatt ering his leg. Once healed, that leg was shorter than the other, disqalifying him for the draft, so he was classified IV-F.

George Robert Salisbury Sr (Dec 13, 1904 - May 2,1943) met Eathyl Frances Hildebrand (29 July, 1907 - 10 March, 1993) at the United Presbyterian Church on E. Spring Street in Seattle. They first dated when Eathyl was 24 and living on Seattle's Rainier Drive. George's younger sister Alice played "match-maker" by planning and executing a dinner set up at the Salisbury home on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle.

George was employed at the time by Laucks Laboratories in Seattle (now owned, since 2008, by Pace Analytical, Minneapolis) as a chemist's apprentice. Though he wasn't schooled past high school, George is reputed to have kept up with his professional chemist peers. Working as an analyst and assayist, his work even took him down into the cramped holds of ships — not fun for one who suffered from claustrophobia!

Eathyl claimed she liked him "because he was quiet, studious, and we shared many common interests, such as working with our hands — building our own boat and future home." George said he liked Eathyl "because she liked to do things I did and she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty." He also said he admired her deep faith in God.

On dates, the couple went on long drives or mountain hikes — also fast water rides on Puget Sound waters in his sea sled or outboard speed boat. They were engaged July 29, 1930 and married June 18, 1932 in the Salisbury home on 7th Ave. On their wedding day they celebrated by going around the Olympic Peninsula.

Once married, George and Eathyl lived in their DIYt home on a bluff above Puget Sound about three miles south of Kingston and west across the wat from Edmonds. With their hand-build house nestled amoung tall cedars, the couple enjoyed carving out a landscape to their liking. Eathyl kept house, dug out stumps, and developed landcaping as her husband continued commuting by boat to work at Lauck's Laboratories.

Three years after moving in, Eathyl and daughter Margaret were enjoying a rest on the beach when smoke was seen rising from the area of the house! Eathyl raced up the many steps to the house to find it fully engulfed in flames. She sped to the window of the room where Margaret's infant sister Betty was napping. Punching a hole in the screen with her fist, Eathyl pulled Betty out literally by the hair!

Following the tragic fire, George and Eathyl moved back to Seattle, staying for a time with relatives, then securing a house and lot in Alderwood manor (now Lynnwood) along Filbert Way. For a time, Eathyl's father lived with them. The situation was less than ideal, so George and Ethyl bought the house that had been the hotel (below Mt Rainier and water tower in the upper middle of drawing below).

The demonstration farm was next door to the chicken hatchery.

George Robert Salisbury II came along on February 25, 1941 and was soon dubbed Bobby to reduce confusion. Dad was delighted to have a son added to his family.
Little is recalled of those early days, as the siblings were small and only two live today. Bobby seems to recall being held on Dad's shoulders (which often happened) to peer at adult eye level into a birdhouse in the yard.

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In 1943, tragedy struck again. Dad suffered a heart attack. Details of that event are recounted in Eathyl's panel on the right.

George Salisbury Sr and Eathyl Salisbury

Eathyl at about 20

Eathyl ca. 1990

Lloyd Lewellyn Hildebrand (born September 29, 1890 in Iowa) married Ethyl Beulah Cox, daughter of Rev. William Robert Cox, a Presbyterian Church pastor and planter of several churches in the Whatcom County area. Eathyl was born March 20, 1880 in Topeka, Kansas. They married June 27, 1906 in Marietta, WA. From that union issued

• Eathyl Frances Hildebrand Salisbury (29 Jul 1907 - 10 Mar 1993 )
• Dorothy Jean Hildebrand Koons (7 Nov 1909 - 6 Mar 1997)
• Lloyd Wesley Hildebrand (1912 - 1997)
• Alvin Theodore Hildebrand(28 Nov 1913 - 14 Apr 1971)
• Alma Enid Hildebrand - (died in infancy)

Eathyl Frances née Hildebrand Salisbury Bunting was born on June 29th, 1907 and named after her mother, Eathyl née Cox.

Ethyl's father, Rev. William Robert Cox (born in the midwest to Charles Hildebrand and Martha Hess from Pennsylvania), was a circuit-riding church planter for the United Presybyterian Church in northwest Washington. He Ethel née Hildebrand met while both clerked at the Bellingham Bay Furniture store.

Eathyl's parents were farming in Mount Vernon, WA when they raised their children, so Eathyl grew up with an appreciation for the sanctity of life — of all of God's creatures. Her father instilled that attitude by personally naming their flowers and trees. To this day there survives a variety of Iris known as the "Eathyl Frances!" Eathyl also admired her father's fine bass singing voice.

A strong Christian faith and refined culture were instilled in her by her pious parents, who also loved good books and fine china. Her mother (known to us as "Grandma Dot") had strong faith, healthy ambition and determination to "accomplish what needed to be done."

Eathyl had a happy childhood with "close classmates and fellow Christians." Her favorite song was"Sweet Hour of Prayer"; her favorite vacation spot: Rosario Beach near Anacortes, WA. Other favorites: spring, Christmas, basketball and field hockey.

As a young girl, Eathyl attended 1st grade through high school in Mount Vernon, WA. She loved her school and her teachers. At home she was expected to obey her parents, love the Lord, respect her elders, and to do her best. Church attendance was a given!

Her first desire was to become a nurse, but was dissuaded by her father, who felt the role would be too rigorous. Consequently, Eathyl chose to attend Bellingham Normal School (now known as Western Washington State University). Upon graduation in August, 1927, she taught primary students for five years in Seattle schools: Seward, Fort Lawton, and Interbay.

Going from rural Mount Vernon and Bellingham to being alone to jump into teaching in metropolitan Seattle was stressful. In fact, it brought on an emotional breakdown, requiring a two-year hiatus.

After the fire leveled their Kingston home, George, Eathyl and the three children lived for a time with relatives, then for a while on Filbert Way in Alderwood Manor. Grandpa Hildebrand lived with the family for a bit, but that proved ill-advised. They were then able to purchase what had been the main house of the demonstration farm after Eathyl went back to teaching once the three children had arrived.

George continued his work at Lauck's. One day an obstinate automobile refused to start, so George attempted to push the car along to get it started. His lifelong hypertension problem struck a blow which caused a cerebral hemhorrage. After a considerable stay in the hospital, George was left bedridden at home. He often described "the bubbles" he perceived in his head. The children were often "hushed." Little Bobby (just over two) learned to get whatever he wanted simply by pointing.

When it came time that Bobby needed daycare, he was driven to the Buxton daycare, where his mom explained that "Bobby doesn't talk." Upon picking him up after school, a surprised mother heard Mrs. Buxter exclaim, "What do you mean he doen't talk? He jabbered all day!"

Following six months of trying to recover, George lost hope andgave up the struggle to live on May 2, 1943 at 38, to be subsequently laid to rest in Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery, Seattle.