Anita Ruth Boldman was born in Hood River, Oregon, on Aug. 22, 1921, the fourth child of Ruth Clark Benefiel and Arthur L. Benefiel.

She graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1938, where she was an excellent student. During World War II she worked in several locations in the Walla Walla vicinity, including at the large airbase.

After the war, she married a returning veteran, Paul Spechko, and she helped him through college at then Washington State in Pullman – the frequent reference for degrees for such supporting wives was PHT (putting hubby through).

After living briefly in Aberdeen, they settled in Spokane where Paul was employed at KXLY as program manager of the TV division. Anita worked in the accounting department of Phillips Petroleum and was active in the community especially in school support.

After her husband’s early death at age 40, Anita remained in Spokane. In 1963 she married Charles Hamer. They moved to Seattle when he was transferred there, and Anita was employed in accounting for an ad agency. They purchased a second home on Orcas Island which she continued to love throughout her life. They moved again to Utah where they lived until Anita retired to Orcas Island where she lived following a divorce until recent years. There she was active in the community center and the American Legion volunteering in various roles. She married James Boldman in 1994 and had a second home with him in Washington, D.C., while retaining her Orcas home. She was widowed again after two years and continued her full-time residence on Orcas Island.

In 2013, Anita suffered a debilitating stroke and moved to California to live with her stepson and his wife. Anita was a lifelong Democrat, who contributed to many causes to help children, the poor, animals and those less fortunate than herself.

She was predeceased by her parents and her older siblings, Evelyn Keizer, James Benefiel and Robert Benefiel. She is survived by her younger siblings, Wesley Benefiel, Jean Frank, Peggy Miller, Toss Benefiel, Joan Allison and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.