Alan Ora Tinnerstet, 76, of Shelton, Wash., passed away quietly on Feb. 16, 2017. He was born on April 16, 1940, in Centralia, Wash., to Ora and Neva Tinnerstet. Alan grew up with his brothers, Roger and Daryl, on his family’s farm in the Wynooche Valley near Montesano in Grays Harbor County. He was active in 4-H and was a March of Dimes poster child, having contracted polio at age 11.

He began his calling to the ministry while still in high school, working with inmates at the county jail in Montesano. He graduated from Montesano High School in 1958, attended Grays Harbor College, and received his BA in Theology from Warner Pacific College in Portland, Ore., in 1963.

Alan married his college sweetheart, Gwen Kretlow, in 1962. He started his pastoral career in Roanoke, Va., in 1963. Alan has been a Church of God pastor in Saltville, Va., Vancouver, Wash., Huntington, Ind., Big Spring, Texas, and Shelton, Wash. While in Saltville, he started a church in Marion, Va., and in 1980 pioneered the Shelton Church. He also worked for the Washington State Department of Social Services as a family reconciliation counselor for 14 years.

Alan loved to be a mentor, help people in need, tell jokes and he had a passion for reading and politics.

Alan was preceded in death by his parents and brother Roger. He is survived by his wife Gwen; brother Darryl (Vicki) in McCleary; sons Jay, in Shelton, Jon (Laura), in Lincoln, Neb., and Jeff, in Shelton; 11 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and numerous foster children.