Rose Wilde Dobson loved her family and long time close friends, books and writing, flowers, mushrooms, birds, and traveling. She died peacefully in her sleep on Jan. 23, 2007, at the age of 93.

Rose was born on Sept. 29, 1913, in Seattle near where Shoreline Community College is now located. She attended Ronald Grade School and Ballard High School and graduated from high school at the head of her class at the age of 16.

Unfortunately, her graduation coincided with the Great Depression and she was unable to take her considerable intellect on to college. She spent many years in the bookkeeping/accounting business, but her real loves of writing and gardening were pursued outside of her work life, especially after she and her husband, Jerry moved to their Whidbey Island farm in 1971.

During those years they opened their home to their family and a varied assortment of old friends and new counterculture friends. They will be remembered for their open minds and loving hearts at a time when so many were looking for a home.

Early in their relationship, they helped start a writers group in Seattle, which they named The Penmen’s Guild. This group lasted from the 1930s until the ‘90s when the group’s members grew too old to drive to meetings. Many of Rose and Jerry’s oldest and dearest friends were members of this stellar organization. The group spent many happy hours and days together camping, building a communal lakeside retreat, and sharing their writing with each other at meetings and parties.

After her retirement, Rose wrote two small books which are memoirs of her early life in the Shoreline area. She self published them and distributed copies to family members. She also wrote many articles on subjects of gardening and nature, a few of which were published in magazines and newspapers.

Rose and Jerry were seasoned explorers. They loved to go beachcombing, hiking and to cruise the unexplored back roads. They traveled to Europe more than a dozen times and also to South America, Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. Rose was always plotting their next outing while Jerry, in later years, wanted more than ever to stay close to his home and beloved garden.

Rose loved good literature and good music, especially opera. Saturdays she would often tune into the Metropolitan Opera broadcast on the radio while she ironed for her family. For several years she worked in a bookstore, and reveled in her immersion in the world of words and ideas.

Rose and Jerry helped start the Tilth Farmer’s Market on South Whidbey, and rarely missed a Saturday market where they sold luscious fruits and vegetables and Rose’s gorgeous bouquets of flowers and herbs. Their yard was a showplace and they loved to take friends on tours. They never met a nursery they didn’t like.

Jerry preceded her in death in 1997 after almost 60 years of marriage. Rose leaves three children, Linda Morris (Daniel Babbitt), Larry Dobson (Gabi Schoening) and his family, Bruce Dobson (Jane Seymour); four grandchildren, Carissa Morris, Lyle Morris, Ian Dobson, and Leaf Dobson; and two great-grandchildren, plus an assortment of beloved ex-spouses and their families who continued to be a part of Rose’s life.

Donations in Rose’s honor may be sent to South Whidbey Tilth at P.O. Box 252, Langley, WA 98260. www.southwhidbeytilth.org.

A simple memorial service will be held at noon Saturday, Feb. 3 in the Fellowship Hall at Langley United Methodist Church, followed by a finger-food potluck lunch and a sing-along at the home of Rose’s daughter, Linda Morris in Langley.