Résumé

Gropp enlisted in the US Army on 07/28/1944, reporting for duty as a private at Fort Lewis, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005, accessed 12/06/2019.)

Draftsman, John I. Mattson, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1946.

Draftsman, Olsen and Olson, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1946-1947.

Draftsman, Paul Thiry, Sr., Architect, Seattle, WA, c. 1950.

Draftsman, Chiarelli and Kirk, Architects, Seattle, WA, c. 1950.

Draftsman, Jones and Jacobsen, Associated Architects, Seattle, WA, c. 1950.

Principal, Gerry Gropp, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1955- . In 1997, Gropp had an office address of 11661 SE 1St Street, Bellevue, WA, the Westridge I and II office building.

Relocation

Born in Seattle, WA, in 1926, Walter G. Gropp moved to Spokane, WA, by at least 1930, where he spent some of his childhood. The 1930 US Census noted the Gropps living at 2903 West Euclid Avenue in Spokane. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Spokane, Spokane, Washington; Page: 19B; Enumeration District: 0022; FHL microfilm: 2342249, accessed 12/06/2019.)

By 1940, his parents had moved back to Seattle, where the 13-year-old Walter resided with his family at 2122 50th Street (now 2122 North 50th Street). His parents rented this residence for $50 per month. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04375; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 40-55, accessed 12/06/2019.)

The Gropps dwelled in Seattle's Madison Park neighborhood at 1828 37th Avenue North (later 1828 37th Avenue East) in 1951. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1951, p. 497.) Gropp and his wife lived at 17238 10th Avenue NW in the city's Broadview neighborhood between 1959 and 1960. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1959, p. 626 and Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1960, p. 633.)

Gropp passed away in Bellingham, WA, on 01/01/2020.

Parents

His mother was Evelyn Wilhelmina McClainGropp (born 06/15/1902 in Calgary, AB, Canada-d. 1970 in Seattle, WA), who worked in the home raising three children. His father, Walter Edward Gropp (born 01/31/1902 in Victoria, BC, Canada-d. 05/04/1980 in Seattle, WA) was of German descent. Walter E. Gropp worked as a salesman of general food products according to the US Censuses of 1930 and 1940. His father had completed high school, but his mother did not continue her education beyond 8th grade as per the 1940 Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Spokane, Spokane, Washington; Page: 19B; Enumeration District: 0022; FHL microfilm: 2342249 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04375; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 40-55, accessed 12/06/2019.) Before his marriage, Walter E. Gropp first came to Seattle on 07/17/1923 aboard the S.S. Princess Adelaide, a Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) "pocket liner."

Walter and Evelyn married on 12/25/1923 in Victoria, BC, Canada. (See (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: British Columbia, Canada, Marriage Index, 1872-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001, accessed 12/06/2019. This document listed her last name as "Clemence.") They entered the US for permanent residence after their marriage in 12/1923 at Seattle, and initially settled there. He filed his intention for naturalization on 10/25/1933. In 1940, his siblings included Robert Edward Gropp (born 06/29/1931 in Spokane, WA) and John Donald Gropp (born 11/11/1935 in Spokane, WA).

Spouse

He wed Doris Patricia Ryan on 07/31/1948 in Seattle, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013; Reference Number: kingcoarchmc149829, accessed 12/06/2019.)

The Gropps were married for 71 years.

Children

He and his wife Patricia had three children: Michael Bryan Gropp, Steven Gropp and Emily J. Gropp (born c. 1961-d. 06/22/1985 in WA).

Biographical Notes

Gropp went by the middle name "Jerry" probably to differentiate him from his father.

At age 18, his World War II draft registration card indicated that Gropp stood 5-feet, 8-inches tall, weighed 128 pounds, and had brown eyes and hair, and had a ruddy, Caucasian complexion. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 67, accessed 12/06/2019.)

• Bellingham, WA (Architect's Death)
  Bellingham, WA 98225

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