Robert W. Tulin

Dr. Robert W. Tulin, longtime Colfax resident, passed away August 24, 2021, in Colfax. He was 90. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held Monday, August 30, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Bruning Funeral Home. Pastor Bob Ingalls will officiate.

Robert was born Dec. 3, 1930, in Seattle, Washington, to John and Vivian (Shattuck) Tulin. He was raised in the town of Agnew and went to school in Sequim graduating with the class of 1949. He attended one year of college in Bremerton and got engaged before enlisting in the United States Navy. He was deployed to Japan serving during the Korean War for four years.

After his time in the Navy, he married Shirley Bergland on February 28, 1954, and shortly after the two welcomed their first son, Daniel Tulin. He attended college at Washington State University to become a teacher and taught high school science in Colfax for three years while also coaching track and football. After a few years of teaching, they moved their family back to Seattle where he attended the University of Washington to become a doctor. It was during this time that he and Shirley welcome their other two children, Kristine and Kenneth.

Following medical school he did a year of internship in Sacramento, CA, at the Sacramento County Hospital and residency training at Virginia Mason for three years before moving back to Colfax in 1970 to work at the medical clinic in town. He was an instrumental part in establishing the medical clinic as it is now. He helped recruit new and long-term doctors to serve an expanding population of patients. Shirley helped in the office whenever she could as a receptionist and bookkeeper. He earned the title of Rural Doctor of the year in March of 2000. He was a member of the Jaycees, Elks, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, served on the Hospital Foundation board, and was chief of staff at the Colfax Hospital.

First and foremost, he was a teacher. He loved teaching people and loved spending time with his family. The Tulin family spent quality time together hunting, camping, and fishing.

He is survived by his two children, Kristine Tulin of Colfax and Kenneth Tulin (Phyllis Dunn) of Anchorage, AK; his sister, Edythe Macomber of Port Angeles; and by three grandchildren,

Jessica (Lee Cook) Campbell, Evie (Conrad) Geier, Michael Dostal; and six great-grandchildren, Adriana, Jacob, Charlotte, Elise, Paisley and Lucas. He was preceded in death by his wife Shirley in 2020, by his parents and by a son, Daniel Tulin.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Whitman Hospital Foundation. On-line condolences may be made at http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com. Bruning Funeral Home is caring for the family.