PORT ANGELES, Wash. – Dewey W. Ehling, 87, died Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, in Port Angeles, Wash. He was born Dec. 14, 1928, in Abbyville, the son of Dave S. and Gladys (Deck) Ehling.

Dewey was a graduate of Abbyville High School and Bethany College in Lindsborg in 1950, with a bachelor's degree in Music Education. Following active duty with the Marines during the Korean Conflict, he conducted orchestras and choirs in the bay area and played oboe with the San Francisco Conservatory Orchestra.

In 1968, he moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where he taught music in the school system and in 1978 became Director of Music for the Anchorage School District. There he was School District Music Director and Community Chorus and Youth Symphony Conductor. In 2010, Dewey was named by the Washington Music Educators Association as one of the outstanding educators of the Pacific Northwest. Dewey's life revolved around music. He leaves a musical legacy by the thousands of lives he touched as a conductor, choir director and stage producer during his lifetime.

On Aug. 6, 1972, he married Lauretta Haase. She survives. Dewey and Lauretta lived in Port Angeles, Wash., for 30 years, where Dewey was a conductor, choir director and stage producer of many musical productions.

Other survivors include: children, Deborah Gwin (Ernie) of Baldwin City, Timothy (Sue) of Seattle, Wash.; brother, Gordon Ehling (Carol) of Abbyville; brother-in-law, Don Ulmer, Ventura, Calif.; and four grandchildren, Cate Gwin, Jonah, Samuel and Grace Ehling. He was preceded in death by: his parents and siblings, Jane Watts, Elaine Foster, Gerald Ehling, Yvonne Ulmer and Daveyne Pugh.

A private memorial service was held Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. Burial was in Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Wash.