Ila Beatrice (Bea) Withrow, 88, of Sweet Home died Oct. 18, 2008 at Lebanon Community Hospital.
She was born June 7, 1920 in Atoka, Okla., the daughter of John and Callie (Woffard) Williams.
She earned her teaching certificate and taught school in Oklahoma. She married her lifelong friend and sweetheart, Gilbert Withrow, in 1946.
In 1947 they moved to Oregon where she taught elementary school. In 1969 she graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
Mrs. Withrow retired from teaching first grade at Hawthorne Elementary School in 1982.
She is survived by her son, Ben Withrow; daughters Ila Jean Pitts, Kathy Withrow and Janet Jones; 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Withrow was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert Withrow; parents John and Callie Williams; six brothers; two sisters; 14 half-brothers and -sisters; granddaughter Hailey Jones; great-grandson Ryan Pitts and great-great-grandson Joseph Gray.
Viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Riverside Christian Church, 42855 Green River Drive (off 47th Avenue) in Sweet Home.
A graveside service will follow at Twin Oaks memorial Cemetery on Riverside Drive in Albany.