More than two dozen people hit the freeway north to the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma on Saturday to help celebrate the state’s 2025 Service to Local History Award recipient, former Lewis County Commissioner Edna Fund.
“Edna exemplifies the qualities of a true historian, advocate and a community leader,” said Jennifer Saunders, director of the Washington State Historical Society. “For decades, she has been an active and vocal champion of preserving Centralia’s unique historical narrative. Edna is an accomplished storyteller, and her engaging presentations on figures like George Washington, the city’s African American founder, brings Centralia history to life, inspiring pride and a sense of belonging in the community.”
The Centralia Downtown Association (CDA) nominated Fund, a former Centralia City Council member, for the award, which began in 2023 to recognize the contributions of an exceptional volunteer at local history organizations in Washington. Fund and the Centralia Downtown Association received an award, and the CDA was given a $500 award in Fund’s name.
Saunders noted Fund’s commitment to collaboration, working closely with schools, civic organizations and government entities to promote historical education. She has helped develop walking tours, educational materials, and community events to celebrate Centralia’s rich history.
Lewis County’s history too, I’d say — and I did say just that in a letter supporting her nomination. Fellow Chronicle columnist Brian Mittge also wrote a letter in support of Fund’s award.
“She’s the kind of person who will wear 19th century garb as she gives a tour of historic downtown Centralia to schoolchildren,” Mittge wrote.
He spoke of her role writing the “Today in History” column for The Chronicle for many years and her collaboration with me on an article in early 2008 about the history of flooding in Lewis County.
“After that effort, Edna, Julie and I took to calling ourselves ‘the history triplets,’” Mittge wrote.
In my letter, I mentioned her work to honor local Rosie the Riveters and the Guys in 2005, to place a historical plaque on the Lewis County PUD building in Chehalis noting that women and men manufactured B-17 wings there during World War II, and to spearhead efforts to fulfill Ezra Meeker’s 1906 dream of erecting monuments to mark the Oregon Trail, including one in Chehalis and another at Claquato. I also mentioned our collaboration on publishing histories of Centralia Christian School, the Southwest Washington Fair, and These Walls Talk: Lewis County’s Historic 1927 Courthouse.
At the presentation Saturday, Saunders touted Fund’s work on preserving history.
“Her leadership not only fosters greater awareness of the community’s past but also strengthens the community’s ties through her shared experience and collective pride,” Saunders said. “Edna Fund stands as an exemplar of what it means to be a steward of heritage.”
Attending the award ceremony were Fund’s son, J.R. McGee, daughter-in-law, Anita, and grandson, Jaymin, who all drove up from Redding, California. Local residents in attendance were Lewis County Commissioner Lindsey Pollock; Lewis County Historical Museum Director Jason Mattson; former Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes and his wife, Kathy; former Centralia Mayor Max Vogt; Dr. Hal Stockbridge, retired associate medical director for the Washington state Department of Labor and Industries; Centralia business owner Rebecca Staebler; Olga Miller; Sharlene Arras; Frank Corbin and his wife, Beth; Lynnette Hoffman, of the Lewis County News; Chehalis City Councilor Kate McDougall; Annalee Tobey and Jessica Reagan Kinney, both of Experience Chehalis; former 22nd District state Sen. Karen Fraser; Scott Boettcher, of the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority, and his wife, Michelle; and Doug and Sharon Peterson.
Accepting the award, Fund thanked everyone and noted that Centralia is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and Lewis County is “the mother of all counties.” She described herself as one of Lewis County’s history triplets along with Mittge and me. She thanked MacKenzie McGee, executive director of the Centralia Downtown Association, for nominating her. She encouraged everyone to celebrate their towns and counties and share that history with children.
“I want people to know our history. I want people to know it’s very interesting,” she said. “I look at this room and all of us who love history. We need to continue to be vigilant in keeping that history and community.”
When she asked all those who attended to support her to stand, a big group inside the auditorium rose.
Saunders acknowledged that Fund helped pack the house.
The evening’s presentations began with an address by Coll Thrush, a history professor at the University of British Columbia and author of “Wrecked: Unsettling Histories from the Graveyard of the Pacific,” published by the University of Washington Press.
In addition to Fund’s award, the state presented the David Douglas Award to the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum for its Indigenous Voices podcast capturing and preserving native voices and to the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center for renovation of its three permanent exhibits. The award recognizes significant contributions through projects, exhibits, digital presentations and programs.
Stacy Scoles, a 38-year history teacher from Sumner, received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching History along with a $750 prize. Two teenagers from Vancouver iTech Preparatory — Kaitlin Medina and Cora Hoyt — received the Teen Historian Award for creating an exhibition on How Anti-Communism Infiltrated Vancouver, Washington.
David Jepsen, who volunteers with the Washington State History Museum’s marketing team, received the R. Lorraine Wojahn Award given to an outstanding volunteer for his social media posts. The Charles Gates Memorial Award, along with $200, was given to John M. Findlay for his article, “The 1805 Vote at Station Camp: History, Heritage, and the Lessons of Lewis and Clark,” while Elisa Law received the John McClelland Jr. Award and $200 for her article, “The 100th Anniversary of the First World Flight.”
Two people were given the Lifetime Achievement Award, formerly known as the Robert Gray Medal — James Payne, an archeologist and longtime executive director of the Fort Walla Walla Museum, and Carol Estep of the Dupont Historical Society.
“We say at the museum that it takes an army to run Fort Walla Walla Museum, and that army is primarily volunteers, and many of you out here are part of the army for other museums,” Payne said. He noted the importance of providing school tours to help children gain a sense of place and belonging, so they know where they fit into the community.
“When children learn that local kids go on to do things of national significance, they develop a can-do attitude,” Payne said. “When you have a sense of place, of belonging, and a can-do attitude, you have what it takes to become community-minded citizens, and that’s what we need to solve today’s problems.”
Easton devoted 30 years to preserving and sharing DuPont history as a volunteer docent, archivist, exhibition designer, board member and president of the DuPont Historical Museum and Society.
“It keeps me off the street,” she said. “It keeps me active.”
“I found our new museum tagline,” Saunders said.
“History — it keeps you off the streets.”
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Julie McDonald, a personal historian from Toledo, may be reached at memoirs@chaptersoflife.com.
