Obituary of Randolph Myron Lindblad

Dr. Randolph Myron “Randy” Lindblad passed away on September 17, 2023, in Olympia, Wash. He was the first baby born in the New Year in his hometown of Alton, Ill. on January 1, 1939. Randy grew up in Alton, attended Alton High School, then made his way to college at Westminster in Fulton, Mo., followed by medical school at Northwestern University in Chicago, specializing in Ophthalmology.

Randy started his journey in medicine at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, where he met and fell in love with a registered nurse, Barbara Idle. They married on May 15, 1965. Randy’s medical internships and residencies took them all over the United States, including Portland, Ore. (UofO/OHSU), St. Louis, Mo. (Washington U), Oklahoma City, Okla. (UofO), and Bremerton, Wash. (US Navy), growing their family along the way. Randy served in the United States Navy as a Physician and Ophthalmologist in Bremerton from 1969 to 1971. They ultimately settled in Sumner, Wash. in 1971.

He chose Puyallup to open an Ophthalmology and Optical office, the Valley Eye Clinic, which served the area for over three decades. He served the Sumner and Puyallup communities not only as a doctor, but through organizations such as the United Methodist Church, Foothills Rails-to-Trails, and the Lions Club. Randy and Barbara were active with their four sons, enjoying sailing aboard their 36-foot sailboat “Sun Up,” mountain climbing, water skiing, alpine and cross country skiing, bicycling, and traveling.

In the mid-2000s, Randy and Barbara retired to Olympia’s Henderson Inlet area in a new home built on land they had bought decades before. The waterfront property, including a barn converted into a cabin, was enjoyed as a family gathering place for many years before. Barbara passed away in 2015. Randy eventually met the second love of his life, Janice Grant in 2019, whom he married at a ceremony in their home on September 2, 2023, just two weeks before his passing.

Randy is predeceased by his father, Arthur Lindblad; his mother, Dorothy Roper; his first wife, Barbara Lindblad; and his son, Paul Lindblad. He is survived by his wife, Janice Grant; brother, Donald Lindblad; sister, Patricia Wendel; sons, Jeffrey (Cathy), Eric (Zoe), and Lars (Gina); and his seven grandchildren, Elle, Kyrsten, Jack, Gus, Grayson, Ingrid, and Greta.

A memorial service will take place on November 4, 2023, 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Olympia. Memorial donations may be made to Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition or the First United Methodist Church of Olympia or Puyallup.

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