Irene Francis Wiltrout

Published 3:33 pm Thursday, March 30, 2023

January, 8 1944 – March, 7 2023

A resident of Ashland and Medford for most of her life, she died at Rogue Valley Memorial Hospital at the age of 79 yrs. The cause of death was late stage emphysema. Irene was born in Spokane, WA. Her family was military and moved a number of times before she graduated from (East Anchorage) high school. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lucille White and stepfather, Hugh White. She was also preceded in death by her son, John Jay Wiltrout. Irene is survived by her brothers, Larry (Sherry) White, Tim (Marsha) White, and Tom (Gail) White. Also, by her former husband, Darrel Wiltrout and their living children, Laurie (Mark) Vander Ark, Jim (Lorelei) Wiltrout and Joe (Brianne) Wiltrout. She is survived also by her two grandchildren, Aimee Vander Ark, and David Vander Ark. She attended University of Idaho but did not graduate because marriage and children interrupted her collegiate career. After having her own babies in rapid succession, Irene began providing childcare for others’ children in her home. Living on a farm property, there was lots of room for children to roam and play with each other and animals – some days there were upwards of two dozen children under her care. After operating at home for about a decade, she took a job at Bellview Elementary School in Ashland, Ore, as a teachers aide. She loaded buses, supervised playground time, counted lunch money and helped teachers in their classrooms for more than twenty years, and was well known and loved by students, parents and teachers. After her official retirement, she took a part time job at So Oregon HeadStart, driving a bus and assisting the preschool teaching staff as needed. Irene loved her children, all dogs (but especially dachsunds) and gardening in her yard. She is loved by all who worked with and knew her. Irene wished to have her remains cremated. An open house memorial service at her home is planned for later this spring. For details, contact Laurie Vander Ark, 541-617-9501.