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 at the Harbour in 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 97.5 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 lawn mower 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, hospital and convalescing stints. At each facility, she received great care from family, medical care givers such as Dr. Gossom and many more too numerous to mention, as well as many young and old friends.

Mildred was born to Lyle and Agnes (Wright) King on May 14, 1915, in the old Sam Bridges house on Guard Street, interestingly where 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 97.5 years – a good and healthy lesson for our young as well as “older people”!

A celebration of her life is being planned for Nov. 17, at 1 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: 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: 1.) The Frank Wilson EMT Association, PO Box 1243, Friday Harbor; 2.) San Juan Historical Museum, PO Box 441, 323 & 405 Price St., Friday Harbor; and 3.) 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.