July 30, 1912---April 10, 2008 Irene Fetty Van Royen passed away April 10, 2008 in Thornton, Colorado. She is survived by her son, John.
Irene was born near Wheeling, West Virginia to Ella Lee Shriver Fetty and Simon Francis Fetty. The family moved to Winchester, Kentucky when she was a teenager. She graduated summa cum laude from Kentucky Wesleyn College and received a degree in Library Science from Western Reserve University. During her career as a research librarian she worked at DePauw University, Kentucky Wesleyn College, Iowa State University, the U. S. Department of Agriculture, the Veteran's Adminstration, West Virginia University, and the National Institutes of Health. In 1939 she was elected national president of the organization for young professional librarians of the American Library Association.
In 1947, Irene married Dr. William Van Royen, who was head of the Department of Geography at the University of Maryland. They had a son, John, born in June of 1949.
In the late 1950's, Irene lived in Morgantown, WV and worked at West Virginia University. She participated in a number of organizations including: the League of Women Voters (former president of the Morgantown chapter), American Association of University Women, and the Methodist Church. In the 1960's she lived in Bethesda, Maryland. In the 1970's she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she enjoyed a new career as an importer and world traveler. Irene's travels took her to Hong Kong, Turkey, Morocco, Ireland, England, Scotland, South America as well as over 20 trips to Mexico. During some of her travels she enjoyed researching her genealogy. In 1994, she moved to Thornton, Colorado to be nearer to her son John and daughter-in-law, Carol.
Friends may call at the Olive United Methodist Church, Pentress, WV on Friday from 11:00 AM until the service hour at 1:00 PM. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM with the Rev. David Lancaster officiating. Interment will follow in the Olive Cemetery.
You may send concolences to the family at www.tennantfuneralhome.com.
The Owen-Neely Funeral Home in Blacksville, WV is in charge of arrangements.