Burt L. Sarver
August 16, 1937 – April 27, 2026
Loving Husband – Devoted Father – Champion of Children
Burt L. Sarver Jr., loving and devoted husband, father and tireless champion for vulnerable children, passed peacefully from this world on April 27, 2026, in Lacey, Washington, after a 32-year battle with prostate cancer. He leaves behind a legacy that will echo for generations.
Burt was born on August 16, 1937, in Madison, Tennessee to Burt and Lula Sarver. The family moved to Idyllwild, California during Burt’s high school years where he played football and graduated from Hemet High School. He attended Chaffey Junior College and Oregon State University, earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After moving to the state of Washington, he eventually pursued a Master’s Degree in Business Administration at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. Burt’s professional career was primarily spent in management and administration, finally retiring from the State of Washington as a Facilities Planner in 1998.
Burt is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Ginger (Virginia) Sarver; son Michael (Diane) Sarver; daughter Christina (Brian Olpin) Sarver; step-daughters Lynda (Michael) Samphire and Carrie (Kevin) Cummings; granddaughter Madeline Sarver (Rory) Ziomek; grandson Matthew Sarver; and step-granddaughter Stephanie Cummings. He leaves behind a devoted sister Ann Merritt of Mesa, Arizona. Since their marriage in 1981, Burt and Ginger together built a family as rich as his legacy, sharing a deep love of alpine skiing, fly fishing, traveling the world together and reveling in family gatherings and celebrations. The family awaits one more precious gift of a great-granddaughter, expected to arrive to the Ziomeks in mid-May.
The defining mission of Burt’s retired life was the founding of a charity devoted to the mission of helping families with children escape homelessness. With the support of the congregation of First United Methodist Church of Olympia and the partnership of his sister Ann Merritt, Burt created Help Us Move In, Inc. (HUMI) in 2000. Through his vision and leadership over the past 25 years, HUMI has grown to reach more than 50,000 children nationally in families experiencing a housing crisis. Through his vision so many families receive something every child deserves – simply being a child in a warm safe home.
Through his challenges with prostate cancer over the years Burt became a devoted member of the Olympia UsToo support group, encouraging men to take charge, learn about and “drive their own bus” in the fight to combat this all-too-common disease. He became a mentor, inspiration and resource to so many newly diagnosed who will miss his thoughtful guidance.
On many occasions, Burt proudly shared the quotation which inspired him as a teen and by which he tried to live:
“When the one Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, He writes not that you won or lost, but how you played the game.” — Grantland Rice
Burt leaves behind a wife who adored him, children and stepchildren who were shaped by him, grandchildren who will grow up knowing his name, and 50,000 young lives that are better because he chose to play the game the right way – and refused to play it alone. He won and he brought everyone with him.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Olympia at a date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, you may honor Burt’s memory and continue his life’s work by making a donation to Help Us Move In, 2645 Chambers Lake Lane SE, Lacey, WA 98503. HUMI is a 501(c) (3) charity www.helpusmovein.org. Or gifts can be made to Zero Prostate Cancer at zerocancer.org in his name.