This “In Remembrance” section lists WSBA members by bar number and date of death. The list is not complete and contains only those notices of which the WSBA has learned through correspondence from members. Please email notices to wabarnews@wsba.org.
Find obituaries from past issues of Bar News here.
James Bush
#8004, 9/6/2025
James Bush was born on Jan. 8, 1947. He earned his B.A. in history from the University of Washington in 1969, and then joined the U.S. Coast Guard. Bush served in Vietnam and returned with a bronze star medal. After being honorably discharged in 1974, Bush attended the University of Puget Sound School of Law, earning a J.D. in 1977. He also earned an LL.M. in tax from Boston University in 1978. Bush started his legal career at the firm Vandeberg Johnson & Gandarra. After working there for 23 years, he started his own firm in 2001. In total, Bush practiced estate planning and tax law for 48 years. He also taught as an adjunct professor at Seattle University School of Law for 15 years. Bush met his wife, Ronnie, on a blind date. The pair were married for 46 years and had three children, James Jr., Carly, and Christina. Outside of work, Bush loved traveling and taking adventurous trips, including to Cannon Beach with his wife, Ronnie; Italy with his son, James Jr.; and Scotland with his daughter, Carly. He also loved being outdoors; in his younger years, he summited Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker. Bush believed in giving back to his community. He served as president of the Pierce County Law Library, the chair of the WSBA Tax Section, and a board member on several other community organizations. He died on Sept. 6, 2025, at age 78, surrounded by his family.
Phillip Gladfelter
#2679, 4/6/2025
Phillip Gladfelter graduated from Princeton University in 1955. He was admitted to the WSBA in 1962. Throughout his career, he worked at Perkins Coie, Pacific Car and Foundry, and elsewhere. He served on the WSBA’s Limited Practice Board from 2003 to 2006. Gladfelter was also a longtime member of the King County Bar Association. He died on April 6, 2025.
Jeffrey Jerome Greene
#27486, 10/2/2025
Jeffrey Jerome Greene earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, and his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law in 1997. In 2007, Greene began working for international law firms overseas in Shanghai, China; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Muscat, Oman; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Greene and his family moved back to Seattle in 2023. He is described as hardworking and prolific in his professional and personal life. He authored and edited many articles and served as the managing editor and co-author of The Mergers & Acquisitions Handbook-A Guide to Negotiated Transactions (First Edition). Greene also enjoyed speaking, cooking, traveling, mentoring, and spending time with his family. Greene died on Oct. 2, 2025, at age 59, of complications from a severe asthma attack. He is survived by his wife, Teresa; his children, Brittany, Joshua, and Chloe; his sister, Konica; and his father, John.
Aaron Shawn Hicks
#14734, 7/29/2025
Aaron Shawn Hicks graduated from Trinity Lutheran College in 1981 and then earned his J.D. from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1984. Starting in 1997, Hicks was a solo practitioner representing contractors, owners, design professionals, bonding companies, and insurers for construction, commercial, and property disputes. He died on July 29, 2025.
William L. Hintze
#1702, 8/24/2025
William L. Hintze was born on June 28, 1935, in Yakima. He earned his undergraduate degree from Washington State University and his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law. He practiced law for more than 50 years in Seattle. Hintze died on Aug. 24, 2025. He is survived by his wife, six children, eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many other family members and friends.
Gary E. Jacobson
#2721, 7/14/2025
Gary E. Jacobson was born on Sept. 7, 1944, in Seattle. He earned his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law. Early in his career, he worked with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, at Safeco Insurance Company, and with Jacobson & Snodgrass. In 1993, Jacobson co-founded the Bellevue law firm of Vander Tel, Jacobson & Yoke, PLLC, where he practiced corporate law for 29 years. Jacobson connected with many people in Western Washington. He enjoyed spending time with his family, boating, and kayaking. Jacobson retired in December 2022. After suffering from Parkinson’s disease, he died on July 14, 2025. Jacobson is survived by his wife, Kaaren, his four children and their spouses, 19 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, all of whom brought him joy.
Steven Ray Meeks
#13295, 9/13/2025
Steven Ray Meeks was admitted to the WSBA in 1983. He died on Sept. 13, 2025. At the time of his death, he lived in Arizona.
Constance Stanton Milliman
#7290, 9/8/2025
Constance Stanton Milliman was born on Dec. 25, 1932, in Norwich, New York. Milliman left home to attend Cornell University at age 16, and then started law school at the University of Washington School of Law at age 19. When she earned her J.D. in 1953, she was one of three women graduates. She met Pierce Milliman at Cornell, and the pair later married and raised three children in Seattle. Milliman was very involved in the League of Women Voters, played tennis at the Seattle Tennis Club, and played bridge. She also enjoyed cross country skiing and spending time in Sun Valley. Milliman died on Sept. 8, 2025, surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Pierce, who died in 2008. She is survived by her three children, Barbara, Valerie, and Glen; six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
James Morton
#2662, 9/8/2025
James Morton was born on Oct. 6, 1942, in St. Charles, Illinois. He attended the University of Oregon, earning a B.S. in 1964 and a J.D. in 1967. For the majority of his legal career, he practiced business, estate planning and probate, land use, and tax law with the firm Morton McGoldrick. In his free time, Morton loved exploring the outdoors, sailing, skiing, and taking photographs. He was also a huge supporter of the Tacoma Glass Museum and served on the board of Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Morton is described as having an insatiable curiosity for life, an infectious laugh, and a kind heart. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; his daughter, Kristine; his son, Robert; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Darrel Peeples
#885, 9/25/2025
Darrel Peeples was born on Aug. 4, 1945, in Seattle to parents Fritz and Ruth Peeples. He grew up in Renton with his two brothers. Peeples played basketball at Washington State University, and then earned a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1970. He was hired by Slade Gorton as an assistant attorney general, launching his legal career in Olympia. In 1976, Peeples was involved in the “Budd Inlet Six” case, in which a Sea World contractor attempted to capture six orcas in the Puget Sound near Olympia. The case eventually resulted in the whales being released and protections being established for orcas in Washington state. In 1984, Peeples and other local attorneys established the firm Swanson, Parr, Cordes, Peeples, and Wyckoff. There, he helped with the writing of regulations for the Environmental Facilities Siting Energy Counsel. He left the firm in the early 2000s and spent the remainder of his career working to site renewable energy projects in Washington. Peeples is described as funny, generous, curious, and big-hearted. He loved astronomy, history, and telling jokes. Peeples died on Sept. 25, 2025, after suffering a stroke. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Julie; his sons, Andy and Colin; his granddaughter, Parker; his brother, Clint; and many other family members and friends.
James D. Picton
#2952, 8/26/2025
James D. Picton was born on March 18, 1943, in Seattle to parents Wilhelmina and James Picton. He graduated valedictorian from Bishop Blanchet High School in 1961. He then attended Seattle University, where he was president of the Young Democrats Club. Picton earned his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1968. In 1970, he ran for Senate in the 33rd Legislative District and narrowly lost. Picton lived and practiced law in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle, where he also served as director of religions education at St. Edward Parish. Picton’s strong Catholic faith and passion for serving others eventually led him to enter St. Thomas Seminary in 1972. In 1975, he was ordained at St. Edward Parish. Picton held several assignments, including as associate pastor at St. Patrick Parish, member of the Seattle Human Rights Commission, Vicar General and Episcopal Vicar for Parishes for the chancery, pastor of St. Madeleine Sophie and founder of St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic School, and others. Picton is described as a priest who valued collaboration between clergy and laypeople, as introverted and brilliant, as practical and creative. He loved theater, traveling, music, and the latest and greatest gadgets. He is survived by many friends and parishioners.
Violet “Vi” Reno
#9385, 9/16/2025
Violet “Vi” Reno was born on Dec. 4, 1952, in Seattle to parents Floyd and Aileen Reno. She was proud of her Italian, Finnish, and Alaskan heritage. Because her mother was a Finnish citizen, Reno grew up speaking Finnish as her first language. Reno graduated early from Ingraham High School and became the first in her family to attend college. She earned a B.A. in sociology-anthropology and journalism from Western Washington University and then a J.D. from the University of Puget Sound School of Law. Reno started her legal career as in-house counsel for Safeco Insurance. She later joined the firm Detels, Madden, Cockett and McGee, and eventually became partner. She then co-founded the firm McGee & Reno, which specialized in maritime law litigation. Reno thrived in a practice area where very few women worked, and earned a distinguished reputation. Later, Reno started her own firm, Law Offices of Vi Reno, where she handled complex commercial admiralty matters. She loved arguing cases and climbing aboard commercial fishing vessels. Reno was a member of the Seattle Urban League and served as president and board member of her condo association. She was also involved with the Norwegian Commercial Club and served on the Nordic Heritage Museum and Swedish Cultural Center Boards of Trustees. Outside of work, Reno loved the arts—she was always reading, attending the theater and the opera, and visiting museums around the world. She enjoyed visiting Paris and London, loved fashion and dressed impeccably, and cherished lazy Sundays at home, reading The New York Times. Reno died on Sept. 16, 2025, at age 72, of cancer.
Charles Roe Jr.
#648, 10/6/2025
Charles “Charlie” B. Roe Jr. was born on June 25, 1932, in Tacoma to parents Charles Brown Roe and Gladys Luvena (Harding) Roe. After graduating from Stadium High School, Roe attended the College of Puget Sound (now the University of Puget Sound), where he joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity, was elected pledge class president, and won the campus ping pong championship. In 1954, Roe married Marilyn Marie Quam, a 1950 graduate of Stadium High School and an executive secretary at Weyerhaeuser. The couple spent more than 70 years together. Roe was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force in 1954 and went on to serve as a supply officer at Blaine Air Force Station in Birch Bay. He then pursued a legal education, attending UC Berkeley and later graduating from the University of Washington School of Law in 1960. During law school, he developed a passion for water and environmental law. Roe went to work for the Washington State Office of the Attorney General and quickly rose to lead the Water & Related Resources Section and eventually established what is now the Department of Ecology. Roe was dedicated to protecting Washington’s natural resources and helped to shape state policy around this topic. He was responsible for drafting and lobbying to pass the Shoreline Management Act, which reduced pollution levels in the Puget Sound. In 1990, Roe joined Perkins Coie, where he continued practicing environmental and water resource law until 2008. During this time, he helped the Seattle Mariners secure water rights for their new stadium. Roe was involved with several boards and organizations, including the National Water Commission, the Western States Water Council (he was appointed to his role by four different state governors), and the Washington Courts Historical Society. He was also heavily involved with the Washington State Bar Association. In the early 1970s, Roe served as chair of the WSBA’s Environmental Law Section, during which time he ran the Section’s newsletter and helped develop CLE programming. Roe also served on the WSBA’s Continuing Legal Education Committee from 2001 to 2009. Outside of work, Roe was an avid sports fan. He enjoyed documenting family events, taking family road trips, and traveling to Scotland to see his daughter and grandchildren. He loved all animals, even pests; he made a point to rescue spiders and rats. Roe is described as brilliant, cheerful, optimistic, endlessly curious, and as someone who made friends wherever he went. He died on Oct. 6, 2025, surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his daughters, Sharon Roe and Jeannine Roe; his grandchildren, Allison Dellwo, Julia Bloom, Natalie DeGroot, and Joshua DeGroot; his great-grandchildren, Parker and Sophie Bloom and Adeline and Eloise Meehan; his brother, Harding Roe; and other family members.