Grace Trowbridge was born August 31, 1929 to Dr. Francis Gillette and Bernice Gillette in Madison, Wisconsin. As a young girl she lived in China and the Philippines as her father was a surgeon in the Navy stationed overseas. After leaving military service, her father moved back to Mondovi, Wisconsin and started a small hospital. In Mondovi she met her future husband James Trowbridge. Grace attended Wayland Academy, a college preparatory boarding school in Wisconsin and Monticello College. She later married James in Mondovi on August 16, 1952. During their marriage, they had three children, Hugh, David and Kristin, and moved many times following James’ career to Wisconsin, MIchigan, Florida, and Washington. When Jim retired, they moved to Idaho. Grace spent most of her adult years as a homemaker, and her biggest hobby most of her adult life was knitting. She made many sweaters and vests for family and friends, and in later years she knit baby blankets and socks for the poor. Babies and young children were a soft spot for her. Even in her last days, seeing them would bring a wide smile.
Grace passed away on March 17, 2022 in Enumclaw, Washington, and she is survived by her husband James, son Hugh Trowbridge, daughter-in-law Cindy, granddaughter Laura and her husband Chris and two great grandchildren Nate and Harry in Australia; son David Trowbridge and daughter-in-law Teresa in North Bend, Washington, grandson Zachary and his wife Morgan and three great-grandchildren Colt, Saige and Blair, granddaughter Kaitlyn in Cle Elum, Washington; daughter Kristin Millard and son-in-law Keith in Enumclaw, Washington, grandson Ryan and his wife Samantha and two great-grandchildren Savannah and Ryder in Fircrest, Washington and granddaughter Danielle Hata and her husband Curtis in Portland, Oregon; nephew James Trowbridge and his wife Patrice, their children Fran and Brian and their families in Wisconsin; and brother Jack Gillette in Texas.
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