Irene Elizabeth Kemp Glass, age 91, was called unexpectedly to her Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 to be reunited with her beloved husband, James Rufus (Jim) Glass married on July 10, 1945 for 34 years until his death.
In her golden years at age 86, on September 7, 2013 she married Al Giebelstein, age 88. They were married for 4 ½ years until his death in April of 2018.
Irene was born on June 28, 1927 in a rock house off Camp Ben McCullough Road near Driftwood, Texas to Willie Kemp and Fannie Teresa Ireland Kemp. She graduated from Austin High School and soon after WWII started her family with Jim. They had four girls, Peggy, JoAnn, Nancy, and Terri.
Irene kept the girls involved in many activities. She was an accomplished bookkeeper for many years at the 40 Acres Club and other businesses. Most recently, she was the bookkeeper for Cliff Barkley, CPA.
She attended Kinney Avenue Baptist Church, was a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church for many years, and was baptized at Friendship Baptist Church on Camp Ben McCullough Road.
Irene became a solo pilot in the seventies and flew over her property in Bastrop County many times. She went skydiving at age 89, was still mowing her own lawn, driving herself all over town, and volunteering at various places (even for “old” people, thought she didn’t consider herself to be “old”). She said she was shooting for 100. She recently became a mentor for a young girl at Joslin Elementary School.
She was the stalwart of the family and an example of enduring faith, love, and perseverance in all circumstances. She was not your typical mother or grandmother. Irene cherished family and hosted many events at the farm which was tagged as the Glass Ponderosa as well as her long-time residence on Roundup Trail.
Irene was a member of the Eastern Star Dripping Springs Chapter 860 and Daughters of the Confederacy Ike Turner Chapter.
She was very caring in visiting and sharing love with others that she met along life’s journey. Irene will always be in our heart and forever on our mind.
Irene was preceded in death by her husbands; parents; sister, Mary Lee Webb; and brother, Boone Kemp. She will be sadly missed by her beloved daughters, Peggy Kelm and husband, Tom, JoAnn Difrancesco, Nancy Zion, and Terri Murphy and husband, Bryan; grandchildren, Julie Kelm Campos and husband, Steve, Matthew Kelm and wife, Robin, Laurie Montgomery McKibben and husband, Randy, Zach Difrancesco and wife, Kristen, Tracy Difrancesco, Peyton Murphy, and Charles Duffield; 5 great-grandchildren; brother, Bill Kemp and wife, Suzon; numerous other relatives; and a host of friends.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., Monday, January 7, 2019 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home followed by a Celebration of Irene’s Life at 12:00 P.M. in the Chapel officiated by Pastor Russell Allen. Interment will follow at Lytton Springs Cemetery.
Honoring Irene as pallbearers will be Bryan Murphy, Peyton Murphy, Tom Kelm, Matthew Kelm, Zach Difrancesco, Charles Duffield, Randy McKibben, and Steve Campos. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Montgomery and Tom Difrancesco.
