Cynthia Gill Panshin

Cynthia Gill Panshin, 87, of Corvallis, Oregon, passed away on Oct. 20, 2026.

Cynthia was born in Concord, New Hampshire, to Maclean and Marie Gill. Her life got off to a challenging start when her mother slipped on an icy step getting off a bus and went into labor. Cynthia was delivered 2 ½ months premature, weighing 1 lb. 13 oz., and was transferred to a hospital in Boston where she spent her first 4 months.

Cynthia grew up in Concord, New Hampshire, the daughter of Concord's first pediatrician. After graduating from Concord High School, she attended Green Mountain Junior College in Vermont and Cortland State Teachers College in New York, before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from California Western University in 1962. She subsequently earned a Master of Arts degree in General Studies (Library Science) from Oregon State University in 1968.

Both of Cynthia's parents were born in Canada and she was proud of her Canadian heritage. As a child, she traveled to Quebec often with her family and spent summers with her aunt and uncle on their farm near Cookshire, Quebec.

Cynthia married Dan in 1960 and the family moved to Corvallis, Oregon, in 1965. They divorced in 1979.

Cynthia worked as a youth services reference librarian at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library from 1968 to 1998, a job that gave her a strong sense of purpose and identity. She loved working with kids and loved that the children's room had its own separate space downstairs. For years after she retired, she would encounter library patrons around town who would greet her and recall her fondly.

Throughout her life, Cynthia was active in her community, especially with PFLAG and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and enjoyed participating in a book club and a knitting group with her UU and other friends. After retirement, she gave generously of her time, volunteering at The Cat's Meow and South Corvallis Food Bank, where she was recognized for her outstanding service and was a favorite of many clients because of her kindness and empathetic nature.

Cynthia was a lifelong cat lover, starting with her childhood cat she named Mousie-Meat. In adulthood, Cynthia was lovingly thought of as the "Tuna Fish Lady" by the many cats fortunate enough to live with her: Tabby, Smokey, Sassafras, Whiskers, Pumpkin, Pepper, Lily, and Rosie.

Cynthia's hobbies included gardening and crafts. She kept a garden for many years, where she especially enjoyed growing flowers and tomatoes for herself, and pumpkins and snap peas for her grandchildren. She knitted Christmas stockings for each member of the family and many catnip mice for her feline friends. Cynthia loved her neighborhood and lived in the same house for 58 years, where she felt safe and enjoyed wonderful neighbors.

In her later years, Cynthia found a special friend in Virgle James, a kind soul who joined her on many memorable adventures and who became like an additional member of the family.

Cynthia was a two-time cancer survivor and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2020. Just as she had to fight to survive when she was born, she was also a fighter until the end.

Cynthia is survived by her son, Stephen (Sandra); daughter, Natalie (Erika Barthelmess); and grandchildren Maclean (Kayla Ashland) and Helen. She was pre-deceased by her parents and by her brother, David Gill.

No memorial service is planned. Cynthia's ashes will be interred at Blossom Hill cemetery in Concord, New Hampshire, alongside her parents. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to South Corvallis Food Bank.