Speake, Marian – 1897-1976

ROBBINS, SPEAKE

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 6/13/2022 at 10:38:40

Marian Speake Dies; Rites Pending
Marian Speake, a former teacher in the Newton Community Schools system for 39 years and recipient of the 1958 Distinguished Teacher Award, died Thursday while on a trip to Williamsburg, Va.
Toland-Wallace Funeral Home in Newton is handling arrangements which have not been completed.
Source: Newton (IA) Daily News; Friday, January 2, 1976, page 5

Marian Speake, Longtime Newton Teacher, Dies; Rites Wednesday
Funeral services for Marian R. Speake, 78, of 616 E. 3rd St. S., a Newton Community School teacher for 39 years, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. William E. Sexton, pastor of the church, will conduct services. Burial will be in the Newton Union Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Toland-Wallace Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions to the First Presbyterian Church or the Delta Kappa Gamma Memorial Scholarship Fund will be accepted. Memorials may be left at the Toland-Wallace Funeral Home.
Survivors are her sister-in-law, Mrs. W. M. Speake, of Toledo; a nephew, Craig Speake, his wife and children, Linda and David of Dayton, Ohio.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, W. M. Speake; and two sisters, Telitha Alice and Clara Ellen Speake.
Miss Speake was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority, Delta Delphians, of which she served as president in 1969 and 1970; Order of Eastern Star and was a charter member of the Soroptimist Club and president in 1959 and 1960, and served both as president and vice president of the Newton Woman’s Club.
She had been on the YWCA board for 20 years as girls’ advisor from Newton Community Schools, Junior Red Cross chairman, co-chairman of the Soroptimist regional conference in 1969, United Presbyterian women’s board, attended and helped with workshops in Des Moines for church women, and was a listener for the First Presbyterian Church.
She had served as president in 1927 of the Newton Teachers Association and had served on numerous other committees; was Newton and district delegate to Iowa State Education Association Delegate Assembly a number of times; was a member of the English Association, served on the State board and was president for two years, and started the State English Bulletin; was on the English national board for two years and served on several committees; wrote much of English literature section in 1947 and 1948 of the state English course of Study; was on the library advisory committee of the Iowa State Education Association in 1942, Central district TEPS committee for 5 years; on the faculty of the Tri-County Institute program for Northwest, Iowa; and was a charter member and had served as secretary of the Retired Teachers Association of Jasper County.
Miss Speake was named Maytag distinguished Teacher in 1958, received a Maytag travel grant to Miami, Fla., in 1962, was one of two representatives from the Iowa State Education Association at the World Confederation of Organizations of Teaching Profession in Washington, D.C., in 1959, was The Newton Daily News Woman of the Month in 1953 and was recipient of an Eastern Star 50 year pin.
The daughter of Albert and Mary Jane Robbins Speake, she was born Mar. 30, 1897 in Benton County near Shellsburg.
Miss Speake, who resided as a child in California, was Altadena School representative at the Tournament of Roses Parade at the age of 8.
She coached girls’ basketball for the first years of her teaching career and had been active as a Camp Fire Guardian and Girl Reserve advisor for many years.
She died Thursday afternoon at Williamsburg, Va., while on a trip.
Source: Newton (IA) Daily News; Monday, January 5, 1976, page 5