REMEMBERING A REMARKABLE WOMAN

 

This week Irene Bates Dunjohn would have turned 96 years old. Sadly, she passed earlier this year. Her ashes will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery later.

Born in London, England her life started out rocky. Shortly after birth Irene's father abandoned both her and her mother. Fortunately Irene's mom was a strong woman who cherished her and filled the void.

As a child Irene developed rheumatic fever. She endured seven hospital stays and five convalescent homes. It was inside a convalescent home that she listened to the abdication speech of King Edward VIII on the radio.

During World War II all London schools were closed due to the frequent air raids. At age 15 Irene went to work for a machinist company. Her nights at that time were spent in a corrugated iron air raid shelter inside a garden.

The house where Irene grew up took a direct hit from a German bomb and was razed to the ground.

At age 17 Irene was drafted into the army. By this time she had worked several jobs and was quite well rounded. Irene served in the Air Ministry at Whitewall. One of her military duties consisted of spotting fires from incendiary bombs as they rained down and rushing to put them out with a stirrup pump.

The Air Ministry office was close to St. James Park where Glen Miller & his band entertained before he went missing over the English Channel.

London during WWII was filled with military men from around the world. Naturally they were attracted to this young beauty with the jet black hair, dark eyes, peaches & cream complexion, and a slim hour glass figure. Irene enjoyed what she called a "Dating Paradise" amidst this dark period.

Later she was promoted to recruiting corporal in the Women's Army. After the war, Irene attended Army College at Welbeck Abby on the edge of Sherwood Forest. Welbeck Abby was also where Mary Queen of Scots was incarcerated.

And it was there Irene met the handsome Kenneth Dunjohn. The romance ended, but embers remained. He became her second husband 60 years later.

Early in the 1950's Irene visited New York City and fell in love with it. She immigrated and thrived there! Although Irene was pursued by many eager suitors she didn't marry until age 39. Air force pilot Glenn Bates, a man often mistaken for Bing Crosby by autograph seekers wooed and won her. Irene & Glenn were blissfully married for 30 years until his sudden death in 1993.

After Glen's death, Irene became a successful Realtor. During this period she met a plethora of celebrities in search of a new home; politicians, actors, authors, and the recently rich thanks to the internet.

Upon retirement Irene chose Florida and Vero Beach. This is where I met her! Here, she remained active and flourished.

A miracle of the internet reunited Irene with her long ago love, Kenneth Dunjohn. She recognized a photo he posted, one as a young man interviewing Winston Churchill. Immediately she sent off an email. In 2011, they married and Irene moved back to England.

2015 Kenneth died of a heart attack. Though heartbroken, Irene was grateful for the brief time they shared together.

After Kenneth's death, Irene moved back to Vero Beach and resumed her amazing life here.

It should be mentioned that in addition to her many talents Irene possessed a beautiful singing voice and played the piano. She sang onstage with the George Mason University Choral Society at Carnegie Hall sharing the bill with Ella Fitzgerald and Marvin Hamlisch; and performed at the Kennedy Center, plus the National Press Club, and on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial.

Irene, along with the Choral Society was invited to tea at the White House and personally met President Nixon and the First Lady, Pat.

Shortly before her death, Irene wrote her memoir for friends only, unavailable to the public; a shame. Everyone would enjoy this book! Irene's life story would also make a marvelous movie! I am so sick of superhero silliness; it would be refreshing to watch a film about a real person who led an extraordinary and interesting life!

Sadly Irene is gone, but she will be remembered and missed. Irene was a self-made woman of class and culture who elevated the lives of everyone around her.