Obituary of Pauline Elizabeth Lien

“Across the years I’ll walk with you,

in deep green forests and shores of sand…

and when our time on earth is through,

in heaven too, you’ll have my hand.” 

It is with great sadness that the family of Pauline Elizabeth Lien announces her passing on Thursday, December 13, 2018, at the age of 91 years. Polly is survived by her best friend and husband of 67 years, Dale Lien; and her children, Steve (Rhonda), Lori (Ford), and Sheri (Steve); as well as her nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

She was born in Portland, Oregon to Griff and Della Griffith in 1927, joining her big sister, Gwen (Williams), whom she adored immensely her entire life. They were a close loving family who always lived just a few miles from each other and now are reunited in heaven.

Polly graduated from Olympia High School in 1945, attended Colorado Women’s College as well as Washington State University where she graduated in 1950. While earning her teaching degree at the College of Puget Sound in 1951, she met Dale, the love of her life, in the class registration line.

They were married in June 1951 and moved to Miami, Florida when Dale was drafted into the Marine Corps in 1952. They experienced the joy of their first born son in 1953, then moved back to Montesano, Washington, in 1954 when Dale got a teaching job there. In June 1955, Polly and Dale moved home to Olympia, Washington. They had their two daughters before Polly eventually went back to work, teaching at Lincoln School and Pioneer Elementary School.

Polly will be lovingly and forever remembered by everyone who knew her. As a first grade teacher in the Olympia School District for 27 years, she touched the lives of hundreds of families and found joy in each day spent with sweet little children and fellow teachers.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Olympia, 1224 Legion Way SE, Olympia, WA 98501. Memorial donations in Polly’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or First United Methodist Church of Olympia.