Obituary of Gwendoline Lucas

Gwendoline Lucas peacefully passed away on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at her home in Washougal, Washington. Born on April 23, 1923 in Llangystenin, North Wales, United Kingdom to John Hugh and Mary (Jackson) Jones; Gwen was 88 years old. During World War II Gwen worked for the Ministry of War Transportation in London, England. She came to New York via the Statue of Liberty as a war bride in 1946 and proceeded to take a train to Montana where she met her husband. On January 16, 1962 she officially became a US Citizen. She worked for the "Black Bear Hotel" in Thompson Falls, Montana. Later she went to work for 21 years at Crown Zellerbach Paper Mill in Camas, Washington. Her working career also included jobs for Pendleton Woolen Mills in Washougal, the "old chicken farm," the Jantzen Knitting Mill, and Noah's Ark where she helped with the daycare. Gwen was a member of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Washougal and the Bryn Seion Welsh Church in Beaver Creek, Oregon. She was also a proud member of the Daughters of the British Empire (DBE), Veteran's of Foreign Wars, Navy Mothers, the historical society, and was a SNAP Volunteer. She also knitted baby caps for the newborns at Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver. Gwen is survived by her loving daughter Kay (Jack) Ritter of Washougal; stepdaughter Carolyn (Jerry) Moncrief of Florida; step-daughter-in-law Cheryl Lucas of Colorado; granddaughter Dena (Ed) Tornow of Camas; grandson Aaron Ritter of Virginia; step-grandson Christopher Lynch of Florida; sister Catherine Hiscock of Great Britain; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Jim Lucas; step-son James Lucas; special friend Paul Murray; and three brothers and two sisters. There will be a celebration of Gwen's life on Saturday, December 10th at 1:00 pm at St. Anne's Episcopal Church: 2350 Main Street, Washougal, WA 98671. Memorials in Gwen's honor may be sent to Hospice Southwest: PO Box 1600, Vancouver, WA 98668. Brown's Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Camas has been entrusted with arrangements.