Faith Arlene “Fowler” Deeds of Orcas Island passed away peacefully in her sleep on Jan. 29 surrounded by her family. She was 93 years young.

Faith was born in St. Paul Minnesota to John Gugler and Perna Gruber on Sept. 9, 1918.

After graduating from college, Pearl Harbor was attacked and Faith joined the Navy Waves. She served the duration of WWII in Washington D.C., and helped crack the Japanese code.

After an honorable discharge from the Waves, she traveled to Alaska to visit her mother in Anchorage. It was on the ship to Alaska that she met and fell in love with George Charles Fowler of Portland, Oregon.

They married and returned to Alaska in 1948 to open a gunsmith shop and then to homestead.

Ten years and five children later they moved to the outskirts of Portland, Ore., where they had one more child.

In 1970 she and George moved to Orcas Island with their three youngest children.

George passed away in 1983 and in 1987 she married long-time family friend John W. Deeds. They lived at her home in the Orcas village area.

Faith was a proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 93, the St. Francis Catholic Church, Orcas Garden Club, the Orcas Power Squadron, the H.A.M. Radio Club of S.J.C. and served as a greeter at the Orcas Senior Center. From 1972 until 2007 she spent countless hours as a volunteer at the Orcas Island Library.

She leaves behind her children: Colleen Billings of Chewelal, Wash.; Charles Fowler and his wife Marlene of Winlock, Wash.; Marie Fowler of Spokane, Wash.; Maureen Wight of Chewela, Wash.; Joan Roll and her husband Christopher of Melbourne, Fla.; Jay Fowler and his wife Teri Williams of Orcas Island, Wash.; and Marion Deeds and her husband Dave Manley of Sebastopol, Calif. and cousin Mae Lucill Gruber of Duluth, Mont.

Faith had 14 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

All who wish to visit and share memories of Faith are welcome to join her family on Feb. 19 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Orcas Senior Center. Refreshments will be provided by the American Legion Auxiliary.

Please remember her with your time or other donations to your favorite charity.

Submitted by Faith Deeds’ family.