Lou Vogel’s heart stopped beating early Sunday October 7, 2021 in New Jersey, where she had been living with her daughter, Paula Vogel Voos, since the beginning of the COVID pandemic.  She is also survived by her other daughter, Louise Vogel, and three granddaughters, Teresa Radtke, Johanna Voos, and Michaela Voos.

Lou was born in 1921 to Wally Peterson, a Seattle police officer, and his wife Eva Weber Peterson.  She graduated from Roosevelt H.S. and then attended the University of Washington where she met her husband who was from Centralia:  Paul Vogel (1920-1994).  After earning a teaching certificate and a Master’s degree in Librarianship, Lou worked in the Everett Public Schools for many years before the family moved to Centralia in 1964 after the death of Paul’s father, Arthur Vogel.  Lou obtained a position at Centralia College where she eventually became head librarian before her retirement. She was a dedicated teacher and librarian and advocate of lifelong learning. After her retirement she owned a bookstore in Olympia for several years.

Lou was in the hospital for only a short time before she died.  She had cultivated many loyal friendships from all the stages of her life. In the last year, she missed her many Centralia friends.  She enjoyed playing Upwards and other word games, and did the mini-crossword in the New York Times, her favorite newspaper, every day.  Since she had saved every theatre program for every show she ever attended, and loved live theatre, Lou enjoyed reviewing the memories her collection evoked.  She also was passionate about politics and had voted less than week before her death.