Helen Lucille (née Geneva) Harbison, 93, peacefully passed away at home on July 17, 2019. Helen was born September 3, 1925 in Freeport, Illinois to William B. Geneva and Carolyn (née Schertz) Geneva. In 1947, Helen graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) with a degree in History and a minor in English. She was a proud sorority sister of Kappa Delta at IWU. She became a stewardess for United Airlines, where she later met her husband, Air Vice-Marshal William “Paddy” Harbison RAF, CB, CBE, AFC, FBIM. With her passion for health and nutrition, she later ran her own business as a diet consultant. Helen is survived by her two sons and three grandchildren.

Helen was an avid alumnae member of IWU and went to the reunions almost every year. Her husband and other family members often accompanied her to the reunions and enjoyed the numerous homecoming events.  Through the years, she kept in touch with many of her sorority sisters from Kappa Delta. She had many wonderful memories of her years as a Kappa Delta sister. Helen’s husband Paddy had the opportunity to give a lecture at one of the homecoming events, “A Pilot’s Perspective on World War II”, where he talked about his experiences as a WWII pilot for the British air force (RAF).

Helen made a digital oral history at IWU which is stored in the digital commons. Link: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/oral_hist/26/

She talks about her time at IWU and how her sorority, Kappa Delta, gave her support and enjoyment.

Helen’s father, William B. Geneva, was also a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University in 1911 and of the IWU Law School in 1917.

Helen’s family would like to thank IWU for all the wonderful reunions. She and her family loved being part of the IWU family.

Helen and William Harbison on Day of Interview

Helen (Geneva) Harbison ’47

Jean Holdridge Reeves, 99, died June 5, 2019.  Jean was born January 27, 1920 in Marion, Ohio. She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University as a Kappa Kappa Gamma sister with a degree in home economics and from the University of Connecticut with master’s degree in child development.  In 1944, feeling a sense of duty as the youngest of four sisters, she enlisted in the American Red Cross to serve during WWII and was stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines. Her tour of duty in the Red Cross is digitally documented in the UNC-G Women Veterans Historical Project. 

You can view her obituary here.

Ruth Eleanor Martin Parks, 100, of Macomb, formerly of Blandinsville passed away at 7:55 a.m. Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Wesley Village Healthcare Center in Macomb. Ruth was born in Wahpeton, North Dakota on December 29, 1918, but lived most of her life on the family farm near Blandinsville, Illinois. She began her teaching career at age 19 at Starr Commonwealth, a private school for boys in Albion, Michigan, and then returned to Illinois Wesleyan University to complete her degree in 1942. She later received her Masters degree from Western Illinois University.

You can view her obituary here.

James “Jim” Hershbarger ’48 of Champaign, Illinois, died April 15, 2019. He was 93. Jim won letters as a member of Illinois Wesleyan’s football, basketball and baseball teams. He was named to multiple all-conference teams and was elected to the Order of Titans. Jim spent 32 years in the auto industry. He also served as an insurance agent for American Family Insurance before retiring in 1995. He was a member of Champaign’s St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, where he was on the consistory and church treasurer for two years. He was also a member of the Elks, Moose and Phi Gamma Delta, where he served as a member of the Interfraternity Counsel. He is survived by his wife, daughter, three grandchildren and a brother.

You can view his obituary here.

Gene passed away on May 11, 2019 at Advocate BroMenn. At IWU he was a member of Sigma Chi. He was married to Jane (Pettit) Archer ’52.

You can read his obituary here.

Marilyn Ames, 91, of Gibson City, formerly of Sibley, died peacefully on Friday, April 26, 2019 at OSF Hospital in Urbana.  She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1950 and earned a Master’s Degree from Illinois State University in 1974. Mrs. Ames taught history at Melvin-Sibley Junior-Senior High School for 30 years. 

You can view her obituary here.

We are saddened to share that Nancy C. Poust (Roberts) ’54 passed away on October 24, 2017 at the age of 85. You can view her obituary here.

It is with sadness that we inform you of the passing of Myra Jane Shepard ’42. Myra passed away on February 5, 2019. You may view her obituary here.