WWII veteran, Lake Stevens barber both waited out shutdown
Bob DeFrang couldn’t have been more pleased. The buzz of clippers didn’t drown out his words of appreciation and approval. “I never would have been a good hippie,” the 93-year-old quipped as barber Steve Iblings cut his hair.
“I thank you for this, Steve,” the elderly man said.
At 7 a.m. Saturday, the shaggy-haired DeFrang walked in as the first customer in more than two months at Steve’s Lake Stevens Barber Shop. Iblings opened his shop Saturday just for the World War II veteran, before welcoming the public back for much-needed haircuts Monday.
DeFrang’s daughter-in-law, Rebecca DeFrang,was up early to drive the Lake Stevens man to his hastily arranged appointment a day after Gov. Jay Inslee gave the green light Friday for Snohomish County to enter Phase 2 — which eased restrictions on businesses, including hair salons. For weeks, many businesses were closed as part of the statewide “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Due to his age, DeFrang is part of a demographic at high risk of serious complications or death from the coronavirus. As of Tuesday, COVID-19 had claimed 153 lives in Snohomish County.
“He hasn’t been out of the house except for two doctor’s appointments,” Rebecca DeFrang said Saturday. She helps and watches over her father-in-law, a widower who lives next door on the property where she and her husband, Dr. Robert DeFrang, make their home.
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