A lifetime volunteer who made her mark across the state will be remembered as a civic hero.
WASHINGTON state has lost another hero.
Kate Webster, longtime Washington State University regent and a leader at Seattle Children’s hospital, has died. She packed a lot of good works into her 92 years, including helping WSU open branch campuses in Spokane, the Tri-Cities and Vancouver.
After joining the Children’s board of trustees in 1963, she became its chairwoman in 1970 and led the hospital toward its affiliation with the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Webster was president of the Junior League of Seattle and on the boards of many other organizations, including the United Way of King County, the YMCA of Greater Seattle and Smith College, her alma mater.
Her friends describe her as a smart problem solver with a quiet and calm manner who brought people together.
Kelly Webster summarized her mother’s life in the following way: She spent her life as a professional volunteer doing unbelievable things. For the wife of a man who started an important national company, that says a lot. Despite her generation, few would think of describing Kate Webster as the wife of the man who founded the Airborne Express delivery company.
Washington state — and the nation — could always use more people like Webster, both in business and civic life.