Gwyneth McColl Owen Pedersen, 83, died at home in Port Townsend on Feb. 22, 2005, after a brief illness. Born in Spokane in 1922, she graduated from the University of Washington where she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority and was chosen homecoming queen in 1941. She met Paul Pedersen at the university, and they married in 1943.

During World War II, Gwyneth lived and worked in Cambridge, Mass., and Long Beach, Calif., while Paul served in the Navy. After the war, Gwyneth and Paul formed life-long friendships with like-minded Spokane liberals resisting McCarthyism. They had three children and lived in Seattle and Mercer Island, where they were active in Democratic politics, working for many causes and candidates. Gwyneth was a bookmobile librarian for King County libraries before retiring.

In 1976, Gwyneth and Paul moved to the home they built on West Beach. They were instrumental in bringing about the preservation of Ebey’s Prairie.

Paul died in 1978. She then worked in Senior Services before moving to Port Townsend in 1992, where she volunteered until very recently for the Democratic Party and the public schools. She read literature, history and politics constantly and belonged to several book groups. She loved flowers, gardening, Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, E.B.White, Katherine Hepburn, public schools, Planned Parenthood, League of Women Voters, peace movement, cats, dogs and libraries.

Throughout her life, Gwyneth was dedicated to truth, beauty, learning and social justice. Her natural generosity, easy laugh and positive outlook on life won her many friends and admirers of all ages. She was beautiful and joyous.

She is survived by her children Gray (Anabel Cole) of Seattle, Deborah (Bruce Cowan) of Port Townsend, Sarah (Fernando Lopez, Jr.) of Olympia; her grandchildren Ben, Alice and Henry; her sister Ardeth Fortier of San Francisco; cousins Barbara Walton and Penelope Yonge of Seattle; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial gathering for Gwyneth was held March 12 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Port Townsend. Remembrances may be made to the peace and social justice organization of your choice.