Georgie Myrtia Kunkel, 105, died on October 29, 2025, in Seattle, WA. She was born in Chehalis, WA, on August 31, 1920, to parents George Riley Bright and Myrtia McLaughlin Bright, the last of 10 surviving children. She spent her early years living through the Great Depression which gave her a sense of frugality. She saved rubber bands and tin foil, a habit she maintained for many years thereafter.
Georgie graduated from Chehalis High in 1938. She attended Western Washington School of Education (now Western Washington University) earning a certificate in 1941 and BA in 1944. She had little money during college and used discarded library catalog cards from her job at the library to create a deck of playing cards with colored pencils. During WWII, she taught school in Vader and Centralia. One summer she worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” in Lewis County drilling holes in B-17 wing panels. She met her husband, Norman Kunkel, in 1943 at the Trianon Ballroom in Seattle. Shortly after they met, Norman joined the American Field Service. He served in India, Italy, and Germany during the war. They corresponded often and he sent her a box from India containing an ice-blue sapphire ring with a note, “Consider yourself engaged!” Upon his return from the war, they were married on April 25, 1946.
She taught grade school classes in Seattle and Highline, then, after graduating from the University of Washington with a Masters of Education, she worked as an elementary counselor in the Highline School District until her retirement in 1982. While teaching, she was forced to resign when pregnant with each of 4 children losing all her seniority each time. As a result, Georgie became a trailblazer. She created the Ad Hoc group WAGE (Women and Girls in Education) and organized a meeting for 700 people featuring attorney Flo Kennedy. The efforts by this group led to the creation of a Commission on Women and Girls by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to which she was appointed. The Commission’s report led to legislation HJR61 that ended discrimination against women and allowed them to keep their jobs after a maternity leave. WAC 162-30-020 was enacted in 1972.
She served as a president of the Washington State National Organization for Women (NOW); went on a campaign to get publishers of children’s reading primers to depict women in diverse careers; was a founder of the Seattle Counselors Association; helped organize the first Highline Teachers Union; and created, organized, and spoke at many events for various groups around the state and across the country.
Our mother was a leader. She lived to serve her community and held various positions, numbering at least a dozen, as president, chair, and board member. She was also a member of the League of Women Voters and the Chamber of Commerce. She was a founder of the West Seattle Democrats and a precinct committee person.
Georgie was a writer. She wrote for the White Center News, the Fishwrapper News, and had a regular column in the West Seattle Herald (“Ideas with Attitude”). She also authored two books: a memoir of her early life and activism and another about Norman’s time in WWII with the American Field Service as an ambulance driver. She wrote about caregiving and laughter plus poetry and jokes. In her 80’s she became a stand-up comic, performing into her 90s at open mics around Seattle.
Georgie was creative. She loved music. She played the piano and sang in the choir at the Saltwater and Westside Unitarian Churches, in community opera, and semi-professional groups like the Rainier Chorale. She wrote parodies for and sang with the Raging Grannies. Her original dream was to become a professional singer. (She could have! Her voice was beautiful.) She enjoyed drawing and illustrated one of her books. And when she wasn’t writing, singing, or leading, she sewed & baked—wonderful cookies, pies, cakes, and her famous Swedish Tea Ring at Christmas.
After Norman’s death in 2009, she met Emil Martin. They were companions until her death.
She is the last of her family’s generation. She was preceded by her husband, Norman, and her son N. Joseph. She is survived by her son, Stephen of Bellevue; daughters, Susan of Tacoma; and Kimberly of Burien. She also leaves 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family offers sincere thanks and appreciation to all her dedicated caregivers. A memorial service will be held at Westside Unitarian Universalist Church, in West Seattle on March 7, 2026. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to UNICEF or Planned Parenthood.
