Hal Ahlstrom

Hal Ahlstrom of Maple Valley, Wash., died March 11. He was 78.

Ahlstrom was born in 1935 to Archie and Eva Ahlstrom. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in astronautics and aeronautics at the University of Washington (UW) in 1957 and 1959. He earned his doctorate in magneto-hydrodynamics at Cal Tech in Pasadena. Ahlstrom returned to UW to advance to a professorship in the department of aeronautics and astronautics. He also spent time at the LeMay Institute of Aix-Marseille University in France where he married Radha, his wife of 42 years.

Ahlstrom worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as director of Inertial Confinement Fusion within Laser Programs before returning to Seattle in 1985 to join Boeing Aerospace as director of Engineering Technology. He retired after 20 years of service.

Ahlstrom was an avid aviator. He owned a series of private planes and maintained his instrument rating for more than 20 years. He volunteered at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. His hobbies also included gardening, skiing and golf.

Ahlstrom is survived by his wife, Radha Ahlstrom; siblings, Karin, Kirsten, Mike, Kathy and Mark; sons, Hal and Eric; and grandchildren, Michelle and Brandon.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, at St. George Episcopal Church, 24219 Witte Road SE, Maple Valley, Wash., 98038. Those who want to make a gift in his name can do so by contributing to the Vine Maple Place (a shelter for homeless families).