Joan "Pinky" B. Glass

Captain Joan B. Glass, NC, USN, retired, known affectionately as "Pinky" to friends and family, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 84 on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. While her blue van and pink wheelchair were familiar sights in local drive-thrus and parking lots, her vim, generosity, kindness and peppery wisdom have left a dearer and far-reaching legacy not soon to be forgotten.

Pinky, born July 18, 1939, to John and Bonny Bagott, grew up in Palouse and attended college at Washington State University for two years before transferring to Stanford in 1959. Earning a degree in nursing from Stanford, she attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and joined the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. At Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland she met and married Glen "Bill" Bowles, a Marine being treated at the hospital. Bill died from cancer in August of 1964, six months after their wedding. After a short stint as a civilian nurse, Pinky returned to the Navy. Over her 28-year career, she worked in naval hospitals in San Diego; Oakland, Calif .; and Jacksonville, Fla .; served on the hospital ship USS Repose during Vietnam; and served as department head of nursing services on the humanitarian voyage of the USS Mercy in the Philippines.

She was an excellent nurse, tough but fair to those who worked under her. Her expectations were high, but she also helped people reach them. In 1971 Pinky married thoracic surgeon James Lawrence "Larry" Glass. Ten years later, Larry died in a car accident March 5, 1980, two miles southeast of Palouse while they were visiting family. While in Oakland, in 1990, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis necessitated her retirement from service, and Pinky moved to Pullman.

During her military service, Pinky received the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Three Stars, Humanitarian Service Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medal.

Although Pinky was no stranger to tragedy, she fought despondency with a briskness and activity inspiring to witness. She was tireless in her objectives, loyal in friendship, free with advice, and liberal with her gifts, assistance and time. She was an active member of Palouse Federated Church, and a person of deep and lifelong faith.

Pinky was preceded in death by her husbands Bill and Larry, parents John and Bonny Bagott, sister Nancy Graham and brother-in-law Gordon Graham, and sister-in-law Joan Bagott.

She is survived by her brother John W. "Bud" Bagott, of Palouse; nephew Michael "Mike" Bagott and wife Darcie Bagott, of Palouse, and their daughter Emily Kate Bagott, of Wentachee, and niece Melissa "Missy" Hanson and husband Jason, of Genesee, and their daughters Molly Beth, of Spokane, and Shelby Ann, of Boise.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Palouse Federated Church. A celebration of life will take place in the spring. Special thanks are extended to all the caretakers, EMTs and hospice personnel who provided peace and dignity to her passing.