Idabelle Forker 1921 - 2011

FORD, FORKER

Posted By: Linda Meyers (email)
Date: 6/29/2011 at 08:53:22

Idabelle Forker
Des Moines

Virginia Idabelle Ford Forker, 90, died at Wesley Acres on June 20, 2011. She was born in Des Moines on May 29, 1921, the only child of Dr. and Mrs. Earl H. Ford. Idabelle graduated from Roosevelt High School and Drake University. At Drake, she was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. Idabelle taught elementary students in Des Moines at Elmwood and Byron Rice Schools, and at the Milford Township Consolidated School between Ames and Nevada.

Idabelle attended the First United Methodist Church in Des Moines fro her entire life. She was active in her church and many other organizations. She was a founding member of Hawkeye Thimblers and Thimble Collectors International. She is a past president of her P.E.O. chapter, of the Des Moines Women's Club, and Thimble Collectors International. She authored two books, A Parade of Saints (a history of the first 150 years of the First United Methodist Church) and My Kaleidoscope of Memories (an autobiography).

Idabelle was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Earl H. Ford and Eva M. Ford, and by her husband of 65 years, Wilson L. Forker. She is survived by her two sons Alan (Jackie) of Castle Rock, CO, and Tom (Beverly) of Los Alamos, NM, by four grandsons, and by five great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 24, in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 1001 Pleasant St., Des Moines, IA.

Memorial gifts are suggested for either First United Methodist Church or the Hoyt Sherman Foundation.

--published in the Des Moines Register