Sidney Elmer Chaloner

Sidney Elmer Chaloner, 96, passed away on April 29, 2026, in University Place, Washington, surrounded by family. Sid was born in Philipsburg, Montana, on April 7, 1930, to Elmer Chaloner and Margie Wunderlich. Sid was the eldest of four children, and he lived much of his early childhood in a small house located inside the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the Badlands of North Dakota where his father was a caretaker of the park. Sid and his family moved to Tacoma, Washington, when he was 12 years old. Sid graduated from Lincoln High School and joined the Army Reserves in 1950 during the Korean War era.

Sid met and then married the love of his life, Margaret, in May 1954. Sid owned and operated two National Auto Parts stores from the late 1960s until the early 1990s. He was most proud of his service and dedication to keeping Catholic education alive and was an integral part of the creation of the first schoolboard for Holy Rosary School in Tacoma. Sid gave countless hours of his time to Holy Rosary School and Parish, working at the annual Christmas bazaar running the country store game, acting as MC at the annual auction, and hosting the annual 8th Grade Picnic at the Chaloner lake property for Holy Rosary 8th graders for over 40 years.

Sid was the most devoted father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather, spending the last half of his life immersing himself in the lives of his grandchildren. Known as “Papa Sid” to his great grandchildren, he spent every moment he could with them, often traveling to four different venues in one day in the Puget Sound area to attend each hockey game of his four great grandsons. Sid was funny, gregarious, philosophical, insightful, and most of all generous, an unmatched spirit inside of him. He cared the most about his family and lived by the mantra he coined, “Family first, family always.”

Sid has left a giant legacy that his family will strive to uphold. He will forever be loved and missed by all who had the privilege to know him. Sid is preceded in death by his wife, Margaret (deceased 2013) and son William Barry Chaloner (deceased 2021). He is survived by sons Michael Chaloner, of Tacoma, and James Chaloner, of Yelm, four grandchildren, Kellie Smith (Chaloner), of Yelm, Michelle Williams (Chaloner), of Graham, James Chaloner, Jr., of Spanaway, Kristine Chaloner, of Lakewood, seven great grandchildren, Derek, Ellie, Sean, Caleb, Seth, Kelsee, and Kennedy, two great great grandchildren, Evey and Novah, and several nieces and nephews.

Viewing on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, from 6-9 pm at Gaffney Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 11:00 am at St. Martin of Tours Church in Fife. Interment at Gethsemane Cemetery, Federal Way, with reception to follow.