Glenda E. (Decker) Bednar passed away on Sept. 19, 2023, at Providence St. Peter Hospital at the age of 77. Born in Seattle on Aug. 17, 1946, she was adopted at the age of 3 weeks by the late Glen Decker (died in January, 1968) and Edna (Walker) (Decker) Peasley (died in June, 1984).
Glenda grew up in DuPont, where her parents worked at the DuPont Explosives Plant. She attended Laughbon School, graduating from DuPont High School in 1963.
Glenda was the loving wife of Raymond Robert (Bob) Bednar. Together since 1962, they were married on July 21, 1964, living in Olympia, Lacey, DuPont, on Mounts Road, and then back to Lacey.
Glenda was a dedicated, longtime employee on Fort Lewis, starting in 1962 at the Fort Lewis Golf Course then in 1968, transferring to the Bowl Arena Lanes on Main Post. Her service was broken in 1964-1965 to deliver their son, Michael Glen Bednar. Glenda took time off again in 1968 to deliver and mother their daughter, Michelle Lee (Bednar) Schwilke, of Camas, Washington.
Glenda enjoyed her work at Fort Lewis for 46 years. She enjoyed her customers and her many friends from “old” DuPont. Retiring in April 2007, she also loved the ocean, Puget Sound, Hood Canal, beaches, and, while growing up, fishing with her parents for salmon and steelhead trout.
In the mid-1980s, Glenda did volunteer work at St. Peter’s “Sunshine House.” And, as a great cook, her meals were enjoyed by all. She enjoyed playing with her plants and hanging baskets.
Along with her husband, Glenda is survived by a brother, Joseph “Joe” Decker, Ethel, Washington; and a half-brother, John Schonber, of Lake Sammamish.
Glenda is survived by her husband Ray, age 82; a son, Michael Glen Bednar, age 58, from Albion and Pullman, Washington, and his wife, Annette, and their children Dane Michael Bednar, age 21, and daughter Ryli-Ann Grace Bednar; also daughter Michelle Lee (Bednar) Schwilke, from Camas, Washington, her husband Michael Schwilke, their son Conor Ray Schwilke, age 31, and his wife Lauren; and 9-month-old great-grandson Hunter; and son Lyndon and partner Savannah.
Glenda was an active volunteer with our area’s Providence Hospice Care program and will be missed by all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial donations be made to the hospice, arthritis or diabetes programs. A celebration of life memorial service will be held at the Martin Way VFW Post 318 in late October or early November. The exact date is yet to be scheduled.
