grave import

Obituary

Elizabeth Jane Wilcox Weinrich died March 12, 2007, at Mount San Antonio Gardens, Pomona, California, where she resided for the last 16 years. As she was known by all, Libby was born January 5, 1911, in Burlington, Iowa, the only child of Dudley K. Wilcox and Blanche (nee Little) Wilcox. Her father died before her first birthday. She attended Burlington schools and enjoyed many happy summers with family at Sylvan Beach on the shores of Lake Michigan. She attended Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, and in 1933 graduated National College of Education, Evanston, Illinois, with a Bachelor's Degree in education. Libby was a kindergarten school teacher in Burlington. In 1947 she moved to southern California to marry Frederick Hovey Weinrich, another Burlington native, whom she knew from grammar school days. By 1947 Fred had been discharged from the United States Army after serving in Europe during World War II. Fred and Libby made their home first in Pasadena and then for many years in Whittier, California, before moving to Mt. San Antonio Gardens, which is a life care retirement community neighboring the city of Claremont, with- in walking distance of the Claremont colleges and a lively downtown. Libby was an athlete who greatly enjoyed golf and skiing, sports she shared with Fred. She believed in keeping physically active and put that belief into practice throughout her long life. Libby was a great family person and made many lifelong friends. While she had no children, her extended family and Fred's extended family were near and dear to her and part of her daily life. She took advantage of every opportunity to travel throughout this country and abroad, and at every pause in her travels she faithfully issued postcard updates and interesting, thoughtful letters to her family and extensive circle of friends back home. Happily influenced by her Fred, she became a great supporter of his school, the University of Southern California ("USC") and its excellent educational and sports programs. Her lovely home in the hills above Whittier, California, provided a place where she could display her antiques and her art. She was an accomplished painter. That home was also a place where she and Fred entertained. Their friends enjoyed gracious hospitality, their comfortable home, flowers from their garden, and gourmet meals served on her elegant table. Her church was an essential part of her long life. She grew up in the First Congregational Church in Burlington, where her mother was the organist. She and Fred were founding members of Hillcrest Congregational Church, La Habra Heights, near Whittier, in which they both remained active members, even after moving to Mt. San Antonio Gardens. Libby could be defined as a gracious, intelligent lady, always interested in the accomplishments of others, well-read and informed, a lively conversationalist, and a true friend to so many. She never met a stranger; she looked people straight in the eye. She was a faithful correspondent, one of those persons who remember birthdays and special occasions. All her life she was a student, eager to learn about people and places near to home and far over the horizon. She was a patriot who believed in the greatness of this nation and its future, and thought the rest of us should have the good sense to share her beliefs. In the highest and best sense of that term, she was from the "old school" in so many ways. A memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church, 313 North 4th Street, Burlington, Iowa, 52601-5315, at 10:30 in the morning, Central Daylight Time, Wednesday, April 18, 2007. The Reverend Carolyn Keck, daughter of Libby's cousin, Phoebe Little Keck, will officiate. Her ashes will be interred at Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington, Iowa. Memorial gifts may be made to the First Congregational Church, Burlington, Iowa, for its "Big Picture Fund" to be used for restoration of the church's stained glass windows, or to the "Student Scholarship Fund/Weingard," a scholarship fund specifically benefitting nursing students, administered by Loma Linda University School of Nursing, 25027 Mound Street, Loma Linda, California 92350-0001.