Former National Park Ranger Darlene Wahl died Friday, Nov. 4 in her San Juan Island home after a two and half-year battle with cancer.

Wahl was sight-impaired at birth, but her disability didn’t stand in the way of her education, career and world travel.

“She once told me [her disability] wasn’t something that stopped her,” said her husband, Ken Arzarian.

A memorial mass will be held Saturday, Nov. 12, 11:30 a.m., at St. Francis Catholic Church. A reception will follow at 12:30 p.m. in the Orca Conference Room of the Earthbox Hotel, 410 Spring St.

Wahl received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Morehead State University and a Master of Science in Outdoor Education and Recreation from the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse.  She was fluent in Spanish, and studied abroad in Spain and Guatemala, and then volunteered at a school for the blind in Costa Rica.

She played the guitar and sang, and enjoyed an array of sports. In 1982, she completed a 500-mile, 45-day expedition across Lapland.

As a field leader for Earth Watch winter archaeological digs, she traveled to Belize and Central America.

In 1999, she moved to San Juan Island, and worked with local teachers in developing the “Habitats” curriculum for the Friday Harbor Elementary School.

She was also known as a history re-enactor, developing a character that dispensed tobacco and other sundries to soldiers.

“Darlene was as game as anyone I’ve ever worked with,” said Mike Vouri, San Juan Island National Historical Park Chief of Interpretation. “She had a great sense of humor as well as an acute sensitivity and perceptiveness that made her the ideal NPS interpreter.”

Call the Earthbox at 378-4000 for more info on Wahl’s reception or visit nps.gov/sajh or call 378-2240.

Read more about Darlene Wahl’s battle with cancer in “General Picket returns — this time for someone in need.”