Iris Foval 1916-2012

FOVAL WHEELER BATES

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/3/2012 at 11:32:43

Sioux City Journal
October 17, 2012

SIOUX CITY | Iris Foval, 96, of Sioux City passed away Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, at her residence.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Matthew Miller officiating. Graveside services will be in Prairie Home Cemetery, Letcher, S.D. which was opened by her grandparents in the early 1800s, and which she often played in as a child while her family worked in the cemetery. She is truly going home. Visitation with the family will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Iris was born on Sept. 16, 1916, on a farm near Letcher, to Chancey and Hazel (Wheeler) Bates. She graduated from Mitchell High School and earned her elementary education degree and a minor in Latin from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D. Iris was a soloist trumpet player with the Mitchell Municipal Band.

She taught school for one year and was married to James E. Foval in 1937 in Arnold’s Park, Iowa. He preceded her in death on Jan. 19, 1993 in Sioux City.

Iris was an avid reader and loved listening to gospel music. She was also an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she served on the board of deacons, and visiting the sick and shut-ins. She enjoyed making cookies, goodies and sending them to the church staff. She also enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Judy Gibson of Sioux City; two grandchildren, Julie (Alan) Cambron of Plano, Texas, and Jim Gibson and fiancee, Mandy Lomax of Kyle, Texas; and five grandchildren, Lindsey, Miles, Natalie Hill and Jordan and Justin Gibson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a sister, Elva Montgomery; and a brother, Harold Bates.