Ephrata in Grant County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Gladys Fuller Washington
(From Nat Jr. Interview)
| — | Champion of Literacy | — |
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, October 24, 2026
1. Gladys Fuller Washington Marker
Gladys Fuller was born in 1890 in Sydney (now known as Port Orchard) and attended Bremerton High School. In 1910, she received a teaching certificate from Bellingham Normal and got her first job that year, teaching 5th and 6th grades in Almira. She received $60 per month as salary and lived in Mary Burk’s boarding house in Almira, sharing room and board with other young teachers, and a lawyer who later became her husband.
She taught at Almira until 1913, when she and Nat Washington Sr. married and moved to Coulee City. Their first son, Nat Jr., was born in 1914 in Coulee City. In 1916, the family moved to Ephrata, the county seat, when Nat Washington Sr. was elected Grant County Prosecuting Attorney. The couple had twin girls, Glenora and Roberta, in 1917. But after the twins were born, Gladys developed phlebitis, a circulatory problem in her leg. The condition worsened to the point where she had to have the lower part of her leg amputated. An artificial limb was put in place, and she wore the prosthesis for the rest of her life.
Gladys remained a housewife until 1926, when her husband was killed in a tragic drowning accident on the Columbia River. Entering the workaday world, she found that her teaching certificate made her eligible to run for county superintendent of schools. She filed for the post and was elected in 1926. As part of her responsibilities, Mrs. Washington had to visit every school district in Grant County. This was a time-consuming task as the county had approximately 70 districts (now there are 13), he said. She visited 40–50 schools every year, observing classes during the day and attending special school programs or 8th-grade graduation ceremonies at night. She was limited to serving two terms as county superintendent of schools. Gladys ended her career as Grant County’s first elected
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After losing Nat on July 10, 1926, she married the half-nephew of Nat Washington, Corbin Washington Castleman, on June 18, 1928, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. At the age of 47, she decided to return to college to get a degree. She enrolled at Central Washington College in Ellensburg and received a degree in education in 1948. She became the principal of Rock Island school following her graduation from Central, he said. In 1955, she returned to Ephrata and started work for the school district’s remedial education program. Gladys was very concerned about students who could not read, and she was delighted in the progress made by those who overcame their reading handicap. She retired in 1957 but continued to work as a tutor in remedial reading classes. She also acted as a live-in nanny for Nat Jr.’s children. Gladys retired in 1960 after devoting 37 years
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, October 24, 2026
2. Gladys Fuller Washington Marker
Gladys with Lenora and Roberta in 1918.
Graduation from Central Washington 1948 with Glenora and Nat Jr.
Erected 2026.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is June 18, 1928.
Location. 47° 19.404′ N, 119° 33.565′ W. Marker is in Ephrata, Washington, in Grant County. It is at the intersection of Cyrus Road and 1st Ave NW, on the right when traveling west on Cyrus Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ephrata WA 98823, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Columbia Basin. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, on the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Camp Tuc-Ta-Hyaspum (within shouting distance of this marker); South East Asian War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Early Days in Ephrata (approx.
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, October 24, 2026
3. Unveiling and dedication ceremony
Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 27, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
