Obituaries

Vallen “Val” McIlroy Pohl

Obituary

Vallen “Val” McIlroy Pohl, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully on November 3rd, 2024, at the Evergreen Health Hospice Care Center in Kirkland, Washington. He was 92 years old.

Born on February 14th, 1932, in Seattle, Washington, Val was the only son of Ed and Pearl Pohl. He attended West Seattle High School and graduated in 1951. He later attended Santa Ana Junior College where he received his AA degree. 

Val married Shirley Sherman in 1955, and together they had two sons, Rick and Tim. He later married Carol Jean Moore in 1966. Val and Carol met at the First Baptist Church in Seattle. After moving to Woodinville, WA, they welcomed their two daughters, Lisa and Sheri. Val and Carol Pohl were married for over 58 years.

Val had an incredibly strong work ethic and built a successful career as a glove salesman for the Portland Glove Company and later became a seed distributor for Ed Hume Seeds.

In his early life, Val loved spending time near the water. As a young boy, Val and his family lived in Honolulu, HI for several years, later moving to West Seattle above Alki Beach. He also enjoyed fishing with his dad and uncles on the Hood canal. He had a love for bird watching, always making sure his bird feeders and baths were full. His favorite bird was his pet crow “Smokey”, who often brought him shiny gifts.

Val was a pitcher for several fast pitch teams in the Seattle area and helped his teams win several tournaments over the years. He loved tending to his vegetable garden and was quite the perfectionist when it came to caring for his lawn. He never passed up a good piece of wood on the side of the road, which he would then add to his extensive firewood collection. He loved his Mariners, his record collection (especially Big Band), and a good steak and salad for dinner.  

Val is survived by his wife Carol, his four children, Rick Pohl (Kierati), Tim Pohl, Lisa Skaugset (Kerry) and Sheri Pohl (David), along with his six grandchildren, Ashley Pitts (Mat), Joshua Pohl (Ashbea), Marne’ Skaugset, Hannah Skaugset, Sarah Skaugset and his great-grandson Mace Pitts.

Other close family members he leaves behind to mourn are his cousins Linda Mowen, Janey Reed and Beverly Mathews, nieces Cheryl O’Connor and Valerie Brechtbill, daughter-in-law Angel Weaver, and foster daughter Lauren Hale and her daughter Faith. He was preceded in death by his parents Ed and Pearl Pohl and Delores Brechtbill (Aunt Dee), who joined the family as Val’s foster sister to help care for him from the time he was born into his early childhood years.