Susens, Barbara Phelps 1913-2010

SUSENS, PHELPS, FELNAGLE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/3/2012 at 09:42:41

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; March 18, 2010

BARBARA SUSENS

Barbara Phelps Susens, 96, of Mesa, Ariz., formerly of Grinnell, died Monday, March 1, 2010, in Mesa.

She was born March 24, 1913, in Biwabik, Minn., the daughter of Louis and Alice Phelps. Her father was employed by Grinnell College to oversee construction of men's and women's dormitories. Her family constructed the home at 602 Tenth Avenue when her father was requested to remain at the college as its business manager.

She attended Parker School, graduated from Grinnell High School in 1931, then enrolled at Grinnell College where, in 1934, she met and was united in marriage with her husband M. George Susens. Both were members of the Grinnell College Class of 1935. After attending graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, the couple moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where her husband was employed by Bell Telephone Company. When the country became involved in World War II after Pearl Harbor, her husband joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), serving in Louisiana, Texas, California, Minnesota and Oklahoma.

After his resignation from the FBI in 1954, the couple returned to Grinnell where her husband worked first for Miracle Equipment Company, then joined the staff of the Grinnell College Development Department. She returned to school to earn a degree in education from Grinnell College, followed by the master's degree in remedial reading from the University of Iowa. She taught the fifth grade at Davis School for 11 years.

In 1972 both retired and built a new home in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colorado, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

She is survived by her son Dr. George Susens of San Francisco, Calif.; her daughter, Mrs. Richard Felnagle of Gilbert ,Ariz.; three granddaughters; and two great grandsons. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one grandson Douglas Phelps Susens.