Myrtle Irene Whipple

Myrtle peacefully went to be with her savior on July, 29, 2013. She was surrounded by her family and friends. Myrtle went to the next world the way she lived: with a quiet strength and a focus on what was good and right for her family and friends.

Myrtle Irene Wales was born on Jan. 12, 1919 in Van Hook, ND. She was raised on a farm and at an early age and established priorities on education and educating. Myrtle taught school in a one room school in North Dakota and continued that calling in the Yakima area. She had a desire and aptitude to help kids who had difficulty reading and transformed the lives of numerous students. Myrtle was awarded Educator of the Year from the First Baptist Church in 1985 and 1986.

Myrtle attended college while teaching full time, raising 4 children, and maintaining a household. She received her Masters degree from Central in 1975. Myrtle was intellectually curious and widely tuned: she wrote poetry, wrote children’s musicals, taught and was the superintendent of Sunday school at the First Baptist Bible church in Yakima, made her kids clothing and maintained the house (plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting). She pioneered the right for women teachers to wear pants at school. In fact, she worked for women’s equality at a time when that was not fashionable. She was president of Beta Sigma Phi and was president of a local P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) chapter.

Myrtle met Ken Whipple on a train in 1946. He was a sailor on active duty and she was returning from visiting her brother in San Francisco. After marring, they settled in Los Angeles, Portland and then Yakima and raised their four children. Myrtle is survived by her sister Pauline (Indianapolis), her son Chuck (Cherie) Everett, her daughters Darlene (Rob) of Yakima, and Beverly (Mike) of Selah, eight grandchildren, Beverly of Anchorage, Neva of Missoula, Dwight of Fairbanks, Jason of Yakima, Jordan of Selah, Jessica of Selah, Emily of Seattle, and Laura of Seattle. Myrtle has 4 great-grandchildren, and loved to have the 4 generations together for family events. Her love for her family had no limits.

Myrtle is pre-deceased by her daughter Sandra, her husband Ken, her parents Charles and Flora, her siblings Dorothy, Loretta, Ralph, George and Harold.

Special thanks to Tana from Memorial Hospice and Adriana, Belinda, Yuri and Julia for their kind and gentle care.

A service will be held at First Baptist church Friday, August 2 at 11 AM. Viewing and visitation will be at Keith and Keith on Thursday Aug. 1st from 4 PM to 8 PM. She will be buried at Terrace Heights Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Myrtle’s name to P.E.O. chapter HK or First Baptist Church, or a charity of your choice.