Martha “Jane” (Tinder) Edge, age 84, passed away on July 13, 2011 at the Panorama Convalescent Center in Lacey. Jane was born to James Franklin Tinder and Leila Mae (McAfee) Tinder in Chariton, Iowa on February 25 1927.
Music was a prominent part of Jane’s life. She played piano from an early age and at the age of 14 took on the post of organist at the local Methodist church in Chariton. She received her Bachelors in Music with an organ performance major in 1948 from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Shortly after graduating, Jane moved to Washington State where she taught music at Annie Wright School in Tacoma in the early 1950’s. She also played organ at the Swedish Lutheran Church in Tacoma at the same time. She taught at Annie Wright again in the mid 1960’s. She married Dexter Edge Jr. in 1951 and instilled the love of music in her two children Dexter and Anne.
Jane was the organist/choir director at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Olympia from 1966 to 1972; she also served as interim director there in the mid 1980’s, and again in the mid 1990’s. She taught pipe organ privately in the Olympia area and as an adjunct faculty member at St. Martins College. She was also extremely active as a piano accompanist for many musicians and musical organizations as well as for many student musicians. Jane was central in the formation of the Olympia Masterworks Choral Ensemble. She was also the founding president of the local Olympia chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Jane was recognized as an organ recitalist both locally and nationally; she performed many concerts over the years at the national conventions of the Organ Historical Society. In 1994, she produced a nationally released CD recording called “In Search of the Lost Chord”. Jane was known for her forthright opinions and was never hesitant to express them. She was never too far away from a can of Coca-Cola.
Jane and husband Dexter travelled extensively, taking several trips to Europe as well as Australia. They also took several road and train trips across North America; many of which were in connection with Organ Historical Society conventions. They have been very supportive of the local performing arts over the years; they contributed to the installation of the organs at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia and at St. Christopher’s Community Church both in Olympia.
Jane was preceded in death by her parents, and by her sister Dora Mae (Tinder) Ruckman and her brother Albert Tinder. She is survived by her husband Dexter Jr., son Dexter of Roslindale, MA, daughter Anne of Olympia, and nephew Richard Tinder of Indianola, IA.
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