Monday, April 29, 2024
Longtime Edmonds resident and master carpenter Dave Dalbotten passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday March 23, 2024. He was 76.
He grew up in Issaquah, and had a childhood full of adventure – riding his bike, exploring Cougar Mountain, winning his beloved dog Taffy at a school carnival, building rafts, and even making a boat to take down Issaquah creek one summer. At Issaquah High School, he excelled in wrestling and track, and holds the record to this day for the 4 x 400m relay.
Dave graduated in Fine Arts from Washington State University, where he met lifelong friends at the Phi Delta Theta house and his wife, Barbara Padden.
Later, he spent time teaching Special Ed and working as a commercial artist. After starting a family, he turned his efforts to finish carpentry. He became a skilled craftsman and later oversaw construction of fine homes as a general contractor. He also took his own home down to the studs and rebuilt it with an artistic eye.
After retiring, he took on family and friends' remodeling projects, tried out new recipes, took walks through Edmonds, played music with friends, and returned to painting.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Padden; daughters Albee Romero (Nick) and Maria Dalbotten (Doug Livas); son Willem Dalbotten; his treasured grandchildren Margot, Gabe, Luke, Eliott, and Irving; brother Mark Dalbotten (Terri); and sisters GaeAnn Anderson (Steve) and Marlys McDermott.
