Rosa Iroline [Blevins] Chambers 1917-2012

BLEVINS, CHAMBERS, RECTOR, DICKERSEON, RELPH, STATEN, SCHROETLIN, FOLKNER

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 6/28/2012 at 11:30:52

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa May 23, 2012)

CHAMBERS, Iroline, 94, of Leon, Iowa, died on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon with Rev. Lyle Ball officiating. Interment was held in the Leon Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been established by the family to be designated for a school scholarship.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa May 23, 2012)

IROLINE CHAMBERS ... Iroline was born on November 14, 1917 at thefarm home of her parents Thomas Jefferson blevins and charity Vianna [Rector] Blevins south of Decatur, Iowa. She was the youngest of 4 children. Iroline entered into her etermal rest on may 17, 2012 at the Decatur County hosptial. She was 94.

Iroline's given name was Rosa Iroline. She was named after a school teacher, and a piano teacher who were special to the family at that time. She disliked the name Rosa, and never did use it.

Iroline attended the Decatur School until the end of her tenth grade year. Then her father sent her to Leon to finish high school so that she could also attain her normal training certificate to be a school teacher. At that time many country students rented rooms in houses north of the high school along both sides of what is now Highway 69. In addition to her school work, she was a participant with a large youth group at the Leon Brethren Church and in class plays. She met her future husband during these years, and they both graduated with the Class of 1935. They had many life-long friends from those years. Her nickname at that time was "Sue" -- because many people had difficulty pronouncing Iroline. She was partial to the name Sue the remainder of her life.

After graduation, Iroline worked for a time at a gracery store and a department store in Leon, and then accepted a teaching position in a one-room coutry school south and west of Decatur.

Iroline married Russell Crawford Chambers on March 6, 1937 and to this union were born three children: James Ray, Sheryl Lee, and Janet Sue.

The family created many mountain memories while living in Craig, Colorado; but were clalled back to Iowa and the Chambers Family Farm when Russell's father passed away unexpectedly after an accident in June 1941. Russell and Iroline took over the family farm that same summer.

Upon their return to Iowa, it wa not long before Iroline returned to teaching all eight grades in one-room country schools. She taught near Lineville, Iowa the school term right before the birth of her youngest daughter in the summer of 1951. In 1954, she once again returned to teaching -- taking Janet with her. She taught at Beavers Country School, Van Wert, Humeston, and LeRoy; and finally accepted a position to teach third grade in Central Leon School District in the Fall of 1962. She retired from that third grade teaching position in May of 1979. She never did have Janet in one of ther classes; but she did teach her grandsons Kent and Jeff for their third grade school years.

In May of 1967, Iroline was awarded her Bachelor of Schience in Elementary Education Degree from Drake University. Like many others of her generation, this was accomplished after many night hours in classes, Saturdays in classes, and summers taking classes.

Iroline was a member of the High Point United Methodist Church and had belonged to the Decatur County Retired School personnel Association. After her retirement, she spent many days working her daughter's dress shop in Leon. She lived in the Chambers Farm Home until 2007, when she could no longer manage on her own.

She has gone to meet her husband Russell (1983), her daughter Sheryl (2004), her parents, and all three of her siblings (Mary Ethel, Howard, and Alma).

She leaves behind: Jim (Roberta) of Corydon, IA; Jan of Leon, IA. Grandsons: Kent (Barb) of Lwell, AR; Jeff (Barbara) of Bakersfield, CA; and Jared (Pam) of Corydon, IA. Step-grandchildren: Token (Tammie) Dickerson of Louisberg, KS; and Dusti (Darin) Relph of Corydon, IA. Great Grandchildren: Amy (Ken) Staten, Tony Chambers, Angela (Chad) Schroetlin, Alyssa (Daniel Folkner) Chambers, and Tiffany chambers. Great-Great Grandchildren: Christopher and Lexie Staten, and a new baby coming in 2012. There are several nephews and nieces and their families, as well as a host of friends and former students who will remember Mrs. Chambers.