Irene R. Nelson

Irene R. Nelson

Irene was born in Orange, New Jersey to Maurice and Helen Rawcliffe. She spent her youth in Nutley, New Jersey where she attended elementary school and graduated from Nutley High School. During these years she was an avid and competitive tennis player and played basketball in her church league.

Irene enrolled in Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania as a physical education major and participated in intercollegiate tennis and basketball. In her second year, she met the love of her life, Harry Nelson, who had returned to college following service in the U.S. Army. They remained a couple through college and graduated in 1958. Shortly after graduation they were married in Nutley, New Jersey.

In September of 1958, Irene was hired as a physical education teacher and taught for a short while. She then became a homemaker and she and Harry had three wonderful children, Martha, Jennifer, and Andrew.

In 1965 Harry accepted a position to start a school for learning disabled students in Lake Wales, Florida, and Irene and the three children moved to Lake Wales. Irene remained at home until the children were fully involved in school. She then began to participate in the Vanguard School as a language tutor.

In 1976 Irene enrolled in a Master’s program at the University of South Florida. In 1983 she received her MA in Learning Disabilities and was inducted in the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Seven years later Irene became Chairperson of the Reading Department at the Vanguard School and remained in that position until her retirement in 2002.

After their youngest child graduated from college, Irene and Harry traveled every summer in the U.S. and around the world. Irene was an accomplished golfer and was President of the Women’s Golf Association in 2003-2004. She also enjoyed playing bridge with friends. Irene was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Wales.

Irene is survived by her husband Harry Nelson, her children Martha Baitcher (Allan), Jenny Cummiskey (Brian), Andy Nelson (Heidi); six grandchildren: Robyn Malcolm (Geoff), Addison Baitcher, Claire Cummiskey, Nelson Cummiskey, Jack Nelson, and Sam Nelson; three great grandchildren, Owyn Malcolm, Eleanor Malcolm, and Graham Malcolm; her siblings Jeanie Huston, Julie Brown, and Stephen Rawcliffe; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life will be held Friday, March 17 ^th , at 2:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Lake Wales. The family will receive visitors starting at 1:00 pm. Interment following at Lake Wales Memorial Gardens. Vanguard School held a special place in Irene’s heart and donations in Irene’s name can be made to the Vanguard School Foundation Empathy Fund.