Jack Reynolds Short

Jack Reynolds Short, age 90, of Kirkland, Wash., passed away in his sleep on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. He was born on Oct. 31, 1933 to Glenn Rice and Lucie (Reynolds) Short in Burbank, Calif. Jack married Janice Dybdahl on July 1, 1961, and the couple had 4 daughters – Susan, Melody, Jenifer and Angela.

Jack graduated from Burbank High School in 1951 and in 1953 enlisted in the Army, serving for 3 years as a radio specialist in the Signal Corps, including a year at the NATO Air Station in Izmir, Turkey, where he helped construct and maintain radio towers. When his tour in Turkey ended, Jack was assigned to the Armed Forces Radio Service reserves in Hollywood, earning the rank of sergeant. Pasadena City College was Jack’s next stop, where he studied electronics and worked at the campus radio station. After receiving his AA degree, Jack studied electronic engineering at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo and Pomona. Jack began his career in radio in 1957, as an engineer and announcer at KHOF-FM in Los Angeles. In 1961, Jack became part-owner of KQMS-AM in Redding, Calif., with his brother-in-law, Jean Carpenter. The family moved to Seattle in 1967, where Jack worked for the phone company for 30 years until his retirement.

Jack’s passion for radio started at an early age, when his cousin helped him build his first crystal radio. That opened up a life-long love of all things electronic, and Jack turned that love into a career as well as a vehicle for service. Jack volunteered as the sound man for Neighborhood Church in Bellevue for 42 years and was known as the guru of all things relating to sound and production. He also spent time as an operator and announcer for several local Christian radio stations and built the original campus radio station at Northwest University in Kirkland. Family and faith were Jack’s main loves. Jack grew up in the Baptist church in Burbank and was a member of Neighborhood Church in Bellevue, Wash., from 1970 until his death. The Short house in Kirkland has been the family gathering place for every holiday and birthday for Jack and Jan’s daughters as well as sons-in-law and 13 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild.

Jack is survived by his wife, Janice, of Kirkland; daughters Susan Smith of Medford, Ore., Melody Christensen of Issaquah, Jenifer Fenn and Angela Campbell, both of Kirkland; grandchildren Joshua, Jonathan and Rachel Smith; Jason Ege; Taylor DeMass; Jessica and Scott Christensen; Jordan Short; Isaac, Tyler Fenn and Leslie Fenn-George; and Matthew Campbell and Emily Wattnem; great grandchild Gabriel Smith. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lucie Reynolds Short, in 1964; father, Glenn Rice Short, in 1977; and two siblings, Glenn Rice Short, Jr., in 1925 and Patsy Lou Short in 1932.

A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for Saturday, January 20, 2023 at 5:00pm at Bellevue Neighborhood Church, 625 140th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98005

All are welcome to sign the online guestbook below and add any messages or stories for the family.