In Memoriam | Margaret E. Philbrick, 1919-2018

— from Martha Farish —

On April 30 Margaret Philbrick, 98 years old, died peacefully in Bellingham in the home she shared with her daughter Julie Gorrell.

Margaret first came to Orcas in 1925 by private boat to visit Nell Philbrick of Orcas Landing. Nell was the aunt of Warren Philbrick who would become Margaret’s husband in 1942, and together Margaret and Warren would purchase 40 acres at Grindstone Harbor from Lou Dodd, then of Orcas and later of Yellow Island.

By 1980 the summer home at Grindstone had become a full-time residence for Margaret and son Clay. In 1994, for health reasons, Margaret moved to Bellingham to live with daughter Julie. In the last days of her life Margaret declared she was fairly certain she had spent at least some portion of every year since 1925 on Orcas Island.

Margaret is the mother of Julie Gorrell of Bellingham, Clay Philbrick of Orcas, and Martha Farish (Joe Cohen) of Eastsound. In addition, Margaret is survived by four grandchildren, Adam Farish (Sara), Emily Farish, Aaron Gorrell (Cat) and Ailia Philbrick, and one great grandchild, Kiyomi Farish.

Margaret was deeply involved in each of the communities where she lived: Vashon Island, Orcas Island, and Bellingham. On Vashon she played piano for a variety of musical events, promoted local arts and established the Vashon Island Ski School. She worked as a librarian in the public school and at the Public Library.

On Orcas Margaret became absorbed in music and community theatre and helped promote the dream that became the Orcas Center. With Bea Cook, and many others, Margaret worked to establish what is now the Orcas Island Public Library. Margaret was the interviewer for many Orcas “old timers” that became the Oral History Project of the Orcas Island Historical Museum. She is the author of A Bit Off Center, a memoir about Orcas. In Bellingham, Margaret tutored ESL students, was active in book clubs, belonged to study groups and was a member, with daughter Julie, in the First Congregational Church of Bellingham.

Abiding curiosity about the world, science, and the lessons of history coupled with a constant flow of books, and the New Yorker and Discover magazines helped Margaret “keep up” until the last few weeks of her life. She often admitted to being, unapologetically, a “book pusher”.

There will be a memorial service at the First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall, Bellingham, on Thursday May 24 at 11 a.m. with ashes to be scattered in a private ceremony on Orcas on June 25. Remembrances are suggested to the Orcas Island Public Library. Full obituary and guestbook at wcremation.com.