Gladys Mae (Novotny) Bath

Gladys grew up on her family farm in the small town of Clarkson, Nebraska. Raised by her Czechoslovakian parents, she did not learn to speak English until she started first grade in a one-room schoolhouse. During her elementary years, Gladys with her sisters (Dorothy and Carolyn) toured the local counties as a musical singing group. In later years, she attended college at the University of Nebraska and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Piano Performance. Gladys went onto the University of Wisconsin where she received her Masters of Music Degree in Piano.

With a passion for music, Gladys taught public school in Nebraska, Delaware, Washington DC, Minnesota and abroad at the Staff School at University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Following public school, she spent several years as an assistant professor in the music department at Washington State University and performed numerous piano recitals there. She played extensively as both a soloist and accompanist in the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, she was sought after and in-demand as an adjudicator for piano competitions and auditions with the National Guild and the Washington State Music Teachers Association (WSMTA).

After her time at WSU, Gladys established and maintained a robust private piano studio well into her 80s, with many students competing and winning at State and National levels.

Gladys was a member of Gamma Phi Beta, Pi Kappa Lambda, Pi Lambda Theta, and the President of Sigma Alpha Iota. She was also on the Executive Board of the Washington-Idaho Symphony Association and was state accredited and nationally certified by the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). In addition, she was a past President of WSU Extension Women, and a past President of the Children’s Home Society of Pullman.

Although raised as a farmgirl in a rural community, Gladys traveled the world extensively with her husband, family, and church choir. In addition to spending time abroad, she enjoyed being in the Pacific Northwest at Coeur d’Alene lake and on Whidbey Island. Or you could find her venturing about to a great find at a garage sale.

Gladys is preceded in death by her parents Joe J. and Libby Novotny.

She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years – Wayne and 3 adopted children: Laurie (husband, Norm), Tom (wife, Anita) and Nancy. She was a proud and caring grandmother to David, Rania (husband, Ben), Chandra (Ramps), Sterling (wife, Adrienne), and Sheridan, and 4 great grandchildren.

She and Wayne had an extraordinary diverse definition of family which was expansive and inclusive extending well beyond immediate relatives to friends, guests, and others who came into their lives. She

was an amazingly talented woman, ahead of her time in many ways who constantly kept everyone laughing. And, to those who knew her well, she will always be remembered to have “just a half.” She was deeply loved and will be missed by everyone fortunate to have known her.

The world is unquestionably a better place because of Gladys or fondly referred to as ‘Hap’ to her husband.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Magdalena and Alex Termure at Progress Adult Family Home in Bellevue for the care and compassion they showed Gladys and our family this past year.

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A memorial service for Gladys will be held on Friday, September 15th at 1:00 pm Pacific time at the BelPres Church, 1717 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004.

If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Eastside Music Teachers Association (www.eastsideMTA.org). Select the Donate button which will take you to PayPal. Please be sure to include “In memory of Gladys Bath” in the memo line.

A graveside service for Gladys was held Wednesday, August 9, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Sunset Hills Memorial Park, 1215 145th Place SE, Bellevue, WA 98007.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunsethillsfuneralhome.com for the Bath family.