Evelyn Firch

Evelyn was born in Osco, Illinois, and graduated from Alpha High School in 1943, She attended Western Illinois University (WIU) for two years and then taught in the Geneseo elementary school system in the Wildermuth one-room schoolhouseduring World War II. In 1949 she returned to WIU and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Education. She then taught in the Wheaton, IL, elementary school system for five years before she went overseas. She later received her M.A. from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana and received an Advanced Degree from the University of Heidelberg in Germany.

Evelyn taught in DoDDS schools all over the world. She entered the program in 1954 when she was assigned to Hamadera ES, Japan, where she later taught at Grant Heights and Misawa. Other postings were in Orleans, France; Vicenza, Italy; Heidelberg and Pirmasens, Germany; Peshawar, Pakistan; Addid Ababa, Ethiopia; and finally her favorite, Iraklion, Crete where she stayed until her retirement in 1984. Evelyn’s favorites were the intermediate grades. She was active in all school functions and extracurricular activities.

She was devoted to her family who lived in Alpha, Illinois and ran the local diner where Evelyn would assist her sister during summer vacations. Among her hobbies were travel, corresponding with former students, teaching Sunday School and avidly solving crossword puzzles.

(Submitted by Michael Harris)