Mildred Louise Sandwith
May 14, 1915 — Oct. 15, 2012
Mildred Louise Sandwith, passed peacefully in her sleep early Monday morning, Oct. 15, 2012, after watching the Sunday night football game and cheering about the Seahawks win over Brady’s New England Patriots, in her apartment at the Village of the Harbour, Friday Harbor, Wash.
By her choice and pre-arrangements, her body was immediately transferred to the University of Washington School of Medicine, for medical and surgical teaching and research. Though she will be immensely missed by a huge family and many friends, especially those interested in sports, she continues to give to all by willing her body to medical science.
Eventually, her ashes will be cast over the grave of her beloved-by-all husband “Pat” Perry John Sandwith, who passed March 3, 1985.
At 97-and-a-half years young, Mildred still was very active at “communicating”, contributing to the San Juan Historical Society, playing bingo, exercising and watching, and “critiquing”, all sports — especially tennis. Just two years previously she was adamant about operating her riding lawnmower to help mow her own lawn on the farm she and Pat worked, and where they raised their family of five children, and where she resided until late last year.
Mildred worked for attorney Sam Buck, for the fish cannery, and then for San Juan County Engineers and Contractors as an accountant/bookkeeper. Pat and Mildred’s five children, produced 12 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
After decades of living and caring for herself in her farm home, with the help of family and periodic nursing during the last 10 months, she lived in her apartment at the Village, after a few EMT-assistance flights and hospital and convalescing stints. At each facility, she received great care from family, medical caregivers, such as Dr. Gossom, and many more, too numerous to mention, as well as many friends, young and old.
Mildred was born to Lyle and Agnes (Wright) King on May 14, 1915, in the old Sam Bridges house on Guard Street, where, interestingly, her first two of five children were also born. She staunchly defended any “opinion” that was identical to her own.
Her advice to “older people” is, “Obey your doctor.” She did not smoke nor consume alcohol, which helped protect her health and life to 97 1/2 years — a good and healthy lesson for our young, as well as “older people”.
A celebration of her like is being planed for Nov. 18, 2012 at 2 p.m., in the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church, with a reception to follow. A full obituary is to follow.
In the meantime, more info about Mildred Sandwith is on the site about her 95th birthday party May 2, 2010 in Friday Harbor, at, http://www.sanjuanjournal.com/lifestyle/93704709.html.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mildred Sandwith’s name to any of the following: The Frank Wilson EMT Association, PO Box 1243, Friday Harbor, or San Juan Historical Museum, PO Box 441, 323 and 405 Price St., Friday Harbor; or, The Seattle Children’s Hospital: Commemorative Giving Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation or Commemorative Giving Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation PO Box 5371 Seattle, WA, 98145.
— Family of Mildred Sandwith
Editor’s note: the date and time of Mildred Sandwith’s Life Celebration has changed since this obituary was originally published. The date is Sunday, Nov. 18, beginning at 2 p.m., at Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church.
