Obituary of Iris M. Warden Quackenbush

Iris M. Warden Quackenbush, daughter of the late Guy H. and Mary Smythers Warden, passed away peacefully at her home April 22, 2024. She attended Petunia Elementary School for six years and took seventh grade in Wytheville. She graduated from Wytheville High School with the class of 1949. The class has been a close-knit group into their late 80’s-early 90’s. She joined Petunia Christian Church when she was 10 years old and died still a member. She married James Richard Quackenbush on April 5,1952 and left Virginia for Massachusetts where Jim was stationed with USAF, and moved from there to Delaware, Illinois, the Azore Islands, Bermuda Island and last to New Jersey with Air Force. She started working as a civilian employee with the Airforce in 1955 at Dover AFB in Delaware, with a GS-3 rating as a clerk typist. Their son was born in January 1953 while at Dover, but was born at a Navy Hospital in Bainbridge, Maryland. Dover AFB did not have a hospital yet. She started working as an Air Force civilian employee in January 1955 at Dover AFB in Delaware as a GS-3 rating for appropriated funds (taxpayers funds). When her husband was transferred to Lajes Field in the Azores, there were no appropriated fund-positions open but non-appropriated fund positions were open and she had a new job doing accounting type jobs for things much more interesting for the officers and NCO clubs, bowling center, Golfclub, Recreation center and workshop, childcare and youth centers and the Airial club at Base that had such. She retired in midsummer of 1985 at McGuire AFB in New Jersey and returned to Wythe County Virginia, January 1990. She found land for sale in Rural Retreat, bought 2 lots and had her home there until she died. Iris was preceded in death by her husband, James Richard Quackenbush; sister, Margaret W. Ogle; brothers, Cliffton Warden, Harold Warden and nieces, Tammy Roark and Kim Mitchell. She is survived by her son, Alan Craig Quackenbush of the home; sister Brenda W. Grubb Graham; Sister-in-law, Rosie Warden; nieces and nephews, Jodie Lynn Sullivan, Joe Grubb, Delena O. Scott, Nathan Ogle, Kathy Arnold, Perry Warden, Jill Davis, and Iris Rush. Per her wishes there will be no services, her cremains will be laid to rest beside her husband in Juliustown, New Jersey. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.grubbfuneralhome.com Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.