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Irene Langston ’60

Born in Corvallis, Oregon, Irene was the only child of Earl and Stella Jennings, and only 16 months old when her father died. Two years later, her mother married John Lance. Irene graduated from Washington High School, and the Oregon College of Education. She earned an MAT in education from Reed College, and then an administrator’s certificate from the University of Oregon.

Irene married Ralph Shea, and they had two sons, Thomas and Daniel. This marriage ended in divorce, and in 1962 she married Chalmer Jack Langston, with whom she spent 33 happy years until his death in 1996.

Irene was an educator employed for more than 30 years by Portland Public Schools, working as a teacher at Sitton, Rigler, and Clinton Kelly; as a supervisor, and principal’s assistant at Lent; and an elementary principal at Applegate, John Ball, Humboldt, and Capitol Hill schools. She was active in the NEA, ESPA, and Phi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. While teaching she served on the district’s math and language arts committees, and coauthored a math program for the district’s radio station, KBPS. Irene also tutored in reading for several years. After her husband’s death she delivered Meals on Wheels for Lents Loaves and Fishes. Her sons survive her.

Appeared in Reed magazine: March 2017

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