Obituary of Carl English

Carl Dennis English, age 70, died September 10, 2010 at home in Vancouver, Washington after a long battle with colon cancer. Carl was born in Vancouver on February 22, 1940 to Vida Hennings English and Ferris English. He attended Evergreen High School, Clark College and the University of Washington and earned an MA in French from Brown University. In 1964 he married Marian Smith English and the couple went to Tanzania with the Peace Corps. He then returned to the University of Washington and pursued a PhD in Linguistics. From 1970 to 1972 he taught English at Haile Selassie University in Ethiopia. Then he directed Adult Basic Education for the Vermont Department of Education before he returned to the farm of his childhood in 1977. Carl founded Homestead Stove Company in 1977 and began exploring ways to continue his family's farming tradition. In 1980 he started growing wine grapes and making wine. In 1990 Marian and Carl divorced. Carl married Gail Dowling English in 1994 and the couple opened English Estate Winery, the first in Vancouver, in 2000. Carl continued as the winemaker until his death. His family will continue the winery and stove business. Carl was a scholar, lover of life, food, wine, and beauty in all its forms. He loved to travel and was endlessly curious. Most of all though, he touched the lives of many and was adored by friends, family and business associates alike. He is survived by his wife, Gail; two children, Carl Smith English and wife Kathy English and Jennifer English Wallenberg and husband Fredrik Wallenberg; two grandchildren, Madeleine and Andrew Wallenberg; four step-children, Ian, Jay and Kristin Dowling and Kelly Emerson; nine step-grandchildren and two siblings, Gene and Nancy English. Carl did not want a funeral. Instead, a party will be thrown to celebrate his life and achievements. A pot-luck will take place at 2pm on October 10, 2010 at English Estate Winery. All who knew Carl are welcome. Friends and family are instructed by Carl to "cry a little, laugh a lot, and dance all night." For more information, please call Brown's Funeral Home at 360-834-3692. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Friends of Hospice Southwest Washington. Brown's Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Camas has been entrusted with arrangements.