She was born Sept. 23, 1921 in Jefferson County, Ark., to the late Mabel Hammett and Elbert Hartwell English. After graduating from Henderson State Teacher&squo;s College, she worked for the Arkansas Department of Revenue, then for IBM until her marriage to the late Edward Burns Irwin. Volunteer work included teaching Sunday school for more than 20 years and teaching English as a second language for more than 25 years.

She also volunteered for several conservation organizations including Elachee Nature Center in Gainesville, Ga. She was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Atlanta, Ga., for 40 years, then a member of the Tryon Presbyterian Church for 16 years.

Survivors include two daughters; Julie Irwin of Kula, Hawaii, and Virginia Campbell of Gainesville, Fla., two grandsons, Philip Campbell and Stephen Campbell, both of Gainesville, and one sister, Jane E. McCone of McPherson, Kansas.

A memorial service was held on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009 at Tryon Estates with Rev. Mary Potter officiating.

Burial will be in Oakhill Cemetery in Newnan, Ga.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, N.C. 28722 or to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC), 34 Wall Street, Suite 502, Asheville, N.C. 28801

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

McFarland Funeral Chapel of Tryon is in charge of arrangements.

‐ paid obituary