EDNA G. POLLEN

Palmer resident Edna G. Pollen, 83, died at her family home on Nov. 14, 2002.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Palmer, with Pastor Kathy Franzenburg officiating. Mrs. Pollen's ashes are to be scattered over Alaskan wildflowers.

Mrs. Pollen was born in Live Oak, Calif., to Dwight and Flora Miles on Oct. 13, 1919. She Married Harry E. Pollen on Jan 8, 1940. She lived in Sitka from 1950 until 1966, at which time she and her family moved to Washington. She resided in Tacoma for a short time. She and her husband then moved to Ocean Shores where they resided until his death in July 1994. She then moved back to Alaska to be close to her family in Palmer.

She had primarily been a homemaker and Sunday school teacher, although she had been employed as a medical transcriptionist at Mt. Edgecombe Hospital in Sitka in the 1960s.

She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Palmer, and also had attended Lutheran churches in Sitka and Ocean Shores. In 1982 she was honored as Women of the Year in Ocean Shores for her work in founding a food and clothing bank. She was a life-long volunteer for numerous charities such as Alaska Crippled Children's Assoc., March of Dimes, various food banks, etc.

Her family said, "She was a devoted Christian, living her life in service to God and her church. She was also a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She had a special gift of friendship that she shared openly with all who knew her. Her life was filled with love and caring for friends and those in need."

She was preceded in death by twin brother, Edward Miles; brothers Charles A. Miles and Alfred E. Miles; and sister Hazel Van Derel.

Survivors are sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Peggy Pollen of Fairbanks, and Benny and Tammy Pollen of Biloxi, Miss.; daughter-in-law Sally Pollen of Palmer; adult grandchildren, April and Martin Smith of Palmer, Benjamin and Tasha Summit of Anchorage, Jonathan and Elizabeth Polley of Fairbanks, and Jerod and Tammy Pollen of Fairbanks; 10 great-grandchildren and one on the way.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.