Obituary of Lucile Wailes

Lucile Henrietta (Kurth) Wailes, 96, of Bennett, Colorado, passed away Saturday, July 21, 2012 at the Denver Hospice Inpatient Care Center in Denver. Born September 27, 1915 in Duncan, Nebraska to Albert and Stella (Welch) Kurth, the family moved to Bennett in 1920, which was her home. She graduated from Bennett High School in 1933 and Greeley Teachers College in Greeley, Colorado with her teacher’s certificate in 1935. On June 27, 1943 Lucile married Chris A. Wailes and shared three sons, Chris A. Wailes II, Bruce L. Wailes and William K. Wailes. They married in Texas during Chris’s enlistment in the Army Air Corps during WWII, so while Chris was serving his country, Lucile was home in Bennett working part-time at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Ammunition Depot. Lucile was a school teacher for over twenty years, teaching in the Watkins, Parker and Bennett School Districts. She enjoyed reading books and, in her early years, she loved to ride horses. Teaching was her passion and it meant everything to her. It was her goal to insure her students were able to read at their very best, and she took pride in making sure all of her students were prepared to move on to their next challenge. Lucile was very knowledgeable about music, books, literature and art and conveyed this on to her family, friends, students and all those whose lives she touched. After retiring from teaching, Lucile continued to stay close to education as Director of Adams County Library Services for over twenty years. Lucile will be deeply missed and her spirit and love will be expressed in all her family and friends lives forever. She was active in her community which she loved very much. She was the last charter member of Bennett Presbyterian Church and was active in the church choir, Order of the Eastern Star, Watkins Womens Club, Strasburg Historical Society and V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary. She is survived by two of her children, Bruce Wailes of Bennett, Colorado and William Wailes (Christy) of Nevada; four grandchildren, William Wailes, Jr., Michael Wailes, Christopher Wailes and Christian Wailes. Lucile was preceded in death by her parents; her son Chris, her husband Chris; four sisters, Mary McKinster, Bonnie Siemers, Bessie Rosenkrans and Marjorie Kurth; and one brother, Leonard Kurth.