Stephen Chilla

Stephen Cyril Chilla, 86, a longtime Raymond resident died Thursday, November 7, 2013 at the Willapa Harbor Care Center in Raymond. Steve was born June 28, 1927 in Pe Ell, Washington to Frank Albert and R. Elsie (Michek) Chilla. Steve and his family moved to Raymond in 1936. He attended Raymond High School until he joined the U.S.Army in 1945. Steve was honorably discharged in March of 1946. Steve married Marjorie Christine Gruginski Kirby Chilla were married June 15, 1956. She preceded him in death in 2003. Steve was a member of the Raymond Elks Lodge. He opened an auto body shop, Steve & Jack’s Auto Body, which he co-owned with Jack Pulkinen. Steve also worked as a body shop foreman at Don Johnson’s Ford in Aberdeen; he also owned South Fork Auto until he retired. Steve is survived by a son Jack Lee (Sheila) Chilla of Arizona; a daughter Vickie Lynn (John) McNamara of Raymond. He is also survived by a sister Fran Karas of Raymond, two grandsons, Kevin Lewis of Tennessee and Kelly McNamara of California, and three great grandchildren in Tennessee. He was preceded in death by a son, Steven A. Chilla. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo. A gathering will be held immediately following at the Raymond Elks Lodge. Memorials may be made to the Raymond Ambulance Fund at 212 Commercial Street, Raymond, WA 98577 or the Washington Elks Therapy Program for Children (Tall Elks) P.O. Box 110760 Tacoma, WA 98411. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Stephen Chilla please visit our Sympathy Store.