Banks & Beals Funeral Homes, P.C.

Obituaries - 2008

Blanche W. Galbraith

Blanche W. Galbraith, age 96 of Stronghurst, Illinois died at 7:55 A.M. Monday June 30, 2008 in the Oak Lane Nursing & Rehab Center in Stronghurst, Illinois. She was born November 27, 1911 in Stronghurst, the daughter of Milton and Metta Curry Beardsley. On June 9, 1951, she married Everett Keener. He preceded her in death in 1959. She later married Marion Galbraith in 1972. He preceded her in death in 1978.

Blanche attended all 12 grades, and graduated from Stronghurst High School at the age of seventeen. At This time the country was locked in a depression. She took a job as the night operator for the telephone company in Stronghurst and saved $150 to pay for her first year of schooling at Illinois State Normal University, Normal, Illinois. By working to supplement her funds, Blanche completed her second year at a cost of $130. She later received her degree in 1944 in elementary education by going to summer school and teaching during the winter.
Her first job after two years of advanced schooling was teaching at the Burrell School near Olena, where for one year she would ride a horse for ten miles each day to fulfill her teaching contract. She then taught two years at the Media Grade School, two years in Danville, IL., nine years in Galesburg, IL., and returned to Media Grade School teaching a combined first and second grade class for six years; and then went to Stronghurst in the fall of 1958, where she taught until she retired in 1972. In all, thirty eight years had been spent instructing children.

Blanche centered her life around her teaching and her students. For the 1967-1968 school year, she was one of the ten finalists in the State Teacher Of The Year contest. She was a charter member of the Alpha Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a member of the Daniel McMillan Chapter of NSDAR, having served as Secretary, Regent, and Treasurer. She was a member of the Stronghurst Presbyterian Church, where she had served as trustee and deacon. She had served as a supervisor of student teachers from Western Illinois University of Macomb, IL., was a member of the Henderson County Retired Teachers Association, where she served as president and secretary, was a trustee of the Henderson County Public Library District, where she was secretary of the board for two years, and was a member of the Stronghurst Community Senior Citizens.

Blanche truly loved children and many in the community thank her for the excellent beginning of their own education in her first grade class.

Friends may call from 1:00 until 4:00 P.M. Friday July 4, 2008 in the Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst. There will be no family visitation. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday July 5th in the Stronghurst Cemetery with Pam Moore officiating. Memorials have been established for the Henderson County Public Library and the Salvation Army for Henderson County Flood Relief.. Send a condolence here.

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Obituaries - 2008 Blanche W. Galbraith Blanche W. Galbraith, age 96 of Stronghurst, Illinois died at 7:55 A.M. Monday June 30, 2008 in the Oak Lane Nursing & Rehab Center in Stronghurst, Illinois. She was born November 27, 1911 in Stronghurst, the daughter of Milton and Metta Curry Beardsley. On June 9, 1951, she married Everett Keener. He preceded her in death in 1959. She later married Marion Galbraith in 1972. He preceded her in death in 1978. Blanche attended all 12 grades, and graduated from Stronghurst High School at the age of seventeen. At This time the country was locked in a depression. She took a job as the night operator for the telephone company in Stronghurst and saved $150 to pay for her first year of schooling at Illinois State Normal University, Normal, Illinois. By working to supplement her funds, Blanche completed her second year at a cost of $130. She later received her degree in 1944 in elementary education by going to summer school and teaching during the winter. Her first job after two years of advanced schooling was teaching at the Burrell School near Olena, where for one year she would ride a horse for ten miles each day to fulfill her teaching contract. She then taught two years at the Media Grade School, two years in Danville, IL., nine years in Galesburg, IL., and returned to Media Grade School teaching a combined first and second grade class for six years; and then went to Stronghurst in the fall of 1958, where she taught until she retired in 1972. In all, thirty eight years had been spent instructing children. Blanche centered her life around her teaching and her students. For the 1967-1968 school year, she was one of the ten finalists in the State Teacher Of The Year contest. She was a charter member of the Alpha Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a member of the Daniel McMillan Chapter of NSDAR, having served as Secretary, Regent, and Treasurer. She was a member of the Stronghurst Presbyterian Church, where she had served as trustee and deacon. She had served as a supervisor of student teachers from Western Illinois University of Macomb, IL., was a member of the Henderson County Retired Teachers Association, where she served as president and secretary, was a trustee of the Henderson County Public Library District, where she was secretary of the board for two years, and was a member of the Stronghurst Community Senior Citizens. Blanche truly loved children and many in the community thank her for the excellent beginning of their own education in her first grade class. Friends may call from 1:00 until 4:00 P.M. Friday July 4, 2008 in the Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst. There will be no family visitation. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday July 5th in the Stronghurst Cemetery with Pam Moore officiating. Memorials have been established for the Henderson County Public Library and the Salvation Army for Henderson County Flood Relief.. Send a condolence here.
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