Barbara Jean Marlow Irwin

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Barbara Jean Marlow Irwin was born May 1, 1949, in Liberal, Mo., to Joseph D. and Leone New Marlow. She passed away unexpectedly following an aortic valve replacement surgery at St. John's Medical Center, in Springfield, on Friday, Aug. 21, 2009. Known to her family as Jeanie, she grew up in the Hume and Nevada communities and graduated from Bronaugh R-VII High School. She attended the University of Kentucky where she received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education in 1971. Later she earned her master's degree in natural and applied sciences from Missouri State University.

On Aug. 24, 1969, she married Lyndon N. Irwin, at the Bronaugh Methodist Church. They had been high school sweethearts and missed celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary by only three days. They were parents of two sons; John Lyndon and Phillip Anson.

Her professional career began by teaching at Dadeville School System for 15 years. She then taught at Walnut Grove for 10 years and at Ash Grove for the last nine years prior to her reitirement in 2007. She subsequently taught as a per-course instructor at Missouri State University.

She was an enthusiastic member of PEO Chapter DP, in Ash Grove, serving for quite a number of years as chapter president. She was a member of the Bois D'Arc United Methodist Church, and was currently serving as president of the United Methodist Women. She also enojoyed her membership in the Bois D'Arc Book Club, and the Retired Teacher's Organization. She was a member of the Rachel Donelson Chapter, DAR. She also has many friends in the Missouri Sheep Producers Association, the 1904 World's Fair Society, and the American Corriedale Association.

She and her husband worked together on a number of educational projects including WebQuest Development for Missouri Farm Bureau. A talented artist, she also completed art work used in several of her husband's books. She also shared her family's love of music. She is survived by her husband, Lyndon; sons and wives, John L. and Risa Irwin, of Fuji City, Japan, and Phillip A. and Ashley Irwin, of Springfield; granddaughters, Anna and Emma Irwin, they were her pride and joy and she enjoyed five trips to Japan since her retirement to visit them; a foreign exchange son, Felix, Krainski, of Wuppertal, Germany, was also dear to her heart; her parents, Joseph D. and Leone Marlow, of Greenfield; two sisters and their husbands, Betty Jo and Jerry Laflen, of Moundville, and Becky and Kenny Toler, of Bolivar; two brothers and their wives, Joe Dale and Tammy Marlow and Martin and Beth Marlow, all of Springfield; her in-laws, Donald and Evelyn Irwin, of Bronaugh, and her brother-in-law and wife, Gary and Kathy Irwin, of Jefferson City; nine nephews; four nieces; three great-nieces; one great-nephew; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be Monday evening, Aug. 24, at Birch Funeral Home, in Ash Grove. Two funeral services are scheduled; the first will be held at 10 a.m., on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Bois D'Arc United Methodist Church.

A viewing will then be held at 2 p.m., that same day at Bronaugh United Methodist church, in Bronaugh, following by a funeral service at 4 p.m. Burial will follow at Worsley Cemetery, Bronaugh.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ash Grove R-IV School Library, to the PEO Educational Loan Fund or Cottey College, in care of Birch Funearl Home, 204 E. Main St., Ash Grove, MO 65604.