Irene L. Washburn, 97

Posted

Irene L. Washburn, 97, of Hillsboro, died on Monday, Sept. 21, at Montgomery Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Taylor Springs.

Visitation will be held Thursday, Sept. 24, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Hough and Sons Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Funeral services will follow, beginning at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Mike Lawton officiating. Burial will be held in Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsboro.

Mrs. Washburn was born May 28, 1923, in Walshville, to Frank and Erma (Lindley) Green. She married Vernon Washburn on Sept. 15, 1940, at First Christian Church in St. Louis, MO, and he preceded her in death on July 30, 2009, after 69 years of marriage.

She grew up in Woodsboro neighborhood and attended a one-room school until eighth grade. She graduated from Hillsboro High School with the class of 1940. While in high school, she modeled clothing for the Shirley Shop at the Orpheum Theater and in Chicago.

Mrs. Washburn was secretary for the Hillsboro School District, serving under O.R. Nettleship, Don Beane and Mike Mugge before retiring in 1982. She traveled extensively during her retirement, often taking their grandchildren with them.

She was active in the 4-H from the time she was eight years old, showing farm animals and her horse, Sambo. She was an accomplished seamstress and won four consecutive blue ribbons at the Illinois State Fair for her clothing projects.

Mrs. Washburn was a brownie leader for the Girl Scouts organization and 4-H leader. She was active in the United Methodist Church in Hillsboro, where she was a member for 76 years. She taught Sunday school, was secretary for the church board for ten years, and she and her husband served as youth leaders.

She will be remembered as a great cook and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.

Mrs. Washburn is survived by her daughter, Patricia (husband Nick) Bourdoumis of Hillsboro; two grandchildren, Cathy (husband Bruce) Gabeau of Hillsboro and Andy (wife Maia) Bourdoumis of Midland, TX; four great-grandchildren, Nicole (Matt) Wilkin of Springfield, Courtney (Cole) Rhodes of Brownstown, Nick (Katie) Bourdoumis of Spring, TX, and Zoe Bourdoumis of Ft. Jackson, SC; eight great-great-grandchildren, Cash and Grayce Wilkin, Alex, Mariella Rose and Karina Bourdoumis, and Kamryn, Hayden and Mykaela Beckett; sister-in-law, Delores Rogers and Mary Tinsman, both of Litchfield; three nephews, Wayne Barringer, Frank Barringer and Paul Barringer; and one very special cousin, Helen Beal Whitlock.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; and three sisters.

Memorials may be directed to the United Methodist Church in Hillsboro.

Online condolences to the family may be left at www.houghfuneralhome.com.