Susan Banks Womeldorff

Susan Banks Womeldorff (née Banks) passed away peacefully on May 29th, 2025. Born in Yakima, Washington on May 24th, 1933 to Mary Elizabeth Banks (née Norie) and William “Bill” Carr Banks.

Susan grew up the second of three children in Moscow, Idaho. She made lifelong friends from her neighborhood. They dubbed themselves the “B Street Gang” and even wrote a compilation of their memories titled, “B Street and Beyond.” Susan met her future husband David “Dave” while at a University of Idaho football rally in high school. The two dated throughout college at the University of Idaho, and married in 1954. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1955. Susan and Dave raised a family of three before she became an academic advisor at Seattle Central Community College. In retirement, she was an artist, was active at East Shore Unitarian Church, traveled, skied, read, and hosted many gatherings of friends and family. She and Dave supported the parents of mentally ill and developmentally disabled children through the Dorothea Dix group. As her body and health declined, her love for Dave was constant. They were married over seventy-one years.

Susan loved life, and was a caring, loving, and supportive daughter, sister, wife, aunt, mother, mother in-law, grandparent, great-grandparent, and even dog owner. She was smart, curious, artistic, witty, adventurous, fun, and a good navigator. Her joy and character were infectious as she loved to laugh, swim, travel, play music, read, play games, go on walks, eat, and have a good drink. She could laugh at herself, wasn’t afraid to have more dessert, was ruthless when playing board games, would stop to greet a golden retriever, and be unapologetically herself. It was said that Susan could carry on a conversation with a fire hydrant (unconfirmed). Undeniable was the happiness she brought to everyone around her through her power to connect.

Susan is preceded in death by her parents Bill and Mary, brother David, daughter Nancy Robb (née Womeldorff), and grandson Jeffrey Womeldorff. She is survived by her husband Dave Womeldorff, sister Molly Banks, sons Gary and Tom Womeldorff, daughters in law, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

A celebration of life for Susan will be August 2nd, 2025 at 1pm at East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue. To RSVP for in-person attendance or to receive a Zoom link for virtual participation, please visit this website.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.