Ione Pearce "Babe" Whipple

IONE PEARCE WHIPPLE “Babe”

Ione Pearce Whipple was born June 17, 1932 to James Lowell Pearce and Ione Rogers in Linden, Navajo County Arizona. She passed away peacefully January 28, 2019, at her home in Show Low Arizona.

Ione married Wendell Oliver Whipple July 12, 1952 at her mother’s home in Show Low Arizona.

Surviving siblings include Clea Pearce Adams, Buena Pearce Seymore Heppler (Ross), Leone Pearce Reidhead (Doy), &  Joy T. Pearce (Beth).

Surviving Children include Terry Whipple (Raija) of Lakeside, Gerry Whipple, deceased, (Marcia) of Show Low, Dale Whipple of Minnesota, Leisa DeWitt (Alan) of Taylor, Jerald Whipple (Paula) of Taylor, Marion Whipple (Mischel) of Mesa, LuDene Whipple (Melody) of Heber, Amy Peterson (Jared) of Snowflake, Sara Hansen (Clay) of Amarillo TX and 48 Grandchildren and 38 Great Grandchildren.

Ione is preceded in death by her Parents, James L. Pearce and Ione Rogers Pearce Owens; Husband, Wendell O. Whipple (Winkie); Brothers, Richard Dean Pearce and Rog Lowell Pearce; Sisters, Myrna Merrill, Adele Lee, Vivian Adams; Brothers in Law, Paul Seymore, Ralph Merrill, Edward “Bud” Lee, Chester Adams; Son, Gerry W. Whipple; Granddaughter, Jennifer Whipple; Grandsons, Ryan Whipple and Daniel Whipple.

Mom was named after her mother Ione and received her nick name “Babe” from one of her uncles.

Mom lost her father at the age of 5 to a tragic vehicle accident that left her mother to tend for 9 children on her own.

Ione attended grade school in Burton and Linden and High School in Snowflake, Arizona and attended 2 years at Arizona State University. Her grade school teacher was her own mother, Ione Rogers Pearce.

Ione was employed with the United States Postal Service for 32 years in Show Low, Arizona retiring in July of 1987.

Ione’s hobbies included raising 9 children, quilting, gardening, canning, & ball games with her kids and grandkids. She enjoyed watching the Diamondbacks. Activities with her siblings, which usually consisted of a “Good Game of Rook”, fun conversations, camping and trips on her brother's bus. She and Wendell traveled with the City of Show Low to Amsterdam, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary in 1999, and a trip to Hawaii for a granddaughters college graduation. One of mom’s favorite past times was to make a day trip with her friends throughout the State of Arizona, which she may have needed 4 wheel drive in a 2 wheel drive car. Each day mom prayed for ways to serve her fellowmen and did that faithfully.

Ione served in various positions with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She served in the Stake Relief Society Presidency, Stake Young Women’s Presidency, Ward Young Women’s President and a Ward Relief Society President, Cub Scout Leader, Family History and Extracting and served as a Temple Worker for the Snowflake Arizona Temple.

Ione was a member of the Friends of the Library and after retirement read to first graders in Show Low Schools and served as a Board member on the Show Low Historical Museum Board.

The public visitation and friends' calling will be from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Friday, February 8, 2019, at Owens Livingston Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel, 320 N. 9th Street in Show Low, Arizona.  The funeral service will begin 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 9, 2019, at the Downtown Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 300 N. 11th Street in Show Low, Arizona where additional visitation will begin 1 hour prior.  The concluding service and interment will immediately follow at the Show Low Cemetery where she'll be laid to rest alongside her Forever Sweetheart, Winkie. 

The Whipple Family expresses their love and appreciation to Hospice Compassus for their service rendered to our mother, including her Doctors and Staff with Summit Healthcare.