Eileen Opal Oliphant

Born on December 15, 1920
Departed on October 23, 2005. Resided in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Memorial

Eileen Opal Gallup Oliphant, 84, of Cedar Rapids died Sunday, October 23, 2005 at Higley Mansion following a courageous battle with cancer. Services: 10:30 A.M. Thursday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Burial: Squires/Oliphant Cemetery in Toddville. Friends may call Wednesday from 4PM to 8PM at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home. The Rev. Lloyd Brockmeyer of St. Paul's United Methodist Church will officiate.
Survivors include a daughter, Paula Rae Leidigh and son-in-law Jim Leidigh of Center Point; her beloved granddaughter, Jess Leidigh of Cedar Rapids and Jess' fianc? Luke Streit of West Des Moines. Also surviving is a sister, Gail Keller Keith of St. Charles, MN; a great-aunt, Donna Burgus of Kissimmee, FL and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Paul in 2001, and three brothers Wesley Gallup, Dale Gallup and Weldon Gallup.
Eileen was born on December 15, 1920 to A.C. Arch and Esther Carvey Gallup in Hazelton. She married Paul M. Oliphant on June 23, 1940 in Bemidji, MN. Eileen grew up in Fayette and Linn Counties. She graduated valedictorian of her high school class of 1936 from Goose Lake, Iowa and attended the University of Dubuque where she obtained her two-year teaching degree at the age of eighteen. She later received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Coe College. Eileen worked for Western Union, in Chicago, during World War II. Later during the war, she was the director of the Sunshine Mission, one of the original child day care centers in Cedar Rapids. Eileen taught school for over 30 years. Her initial assignments were in Tenant and Atkins, Iowa where she also coached girl's basketball and softball. Eileen was one of the first women basketball coaches in the state of Iowa. She taught for the Cedar Rapids Community School District for most of her career, at Tyler and Grant Elementary Schools. Eileen loved her career in teaching and touched the lives of many children. She believed in the potential of every child and challenged each one to strive for their personal best. Eileen was an avid volunteer both while working full-time and after her retirement. She volunteered with St. Luke's Hospital, the American Red Cross, Cedar Rapids Schools, Linn County Sheriff's Department and R.S.V.P. She was also a tour guide at the Seminole Valley Farms. She was an active member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church and the Toddville American Legion Auxiliary. She was a lifetime member of the National Education Association and the Iowa State Education Association, as well as Cedar Rapids Retired Teacher's Association. Eileen was a member and past president of the Cedar Rapids Women's Club and a member and past president of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Honor Society Theta Chapter. Eileen was actively involved in politics for a number of years. She was a member and past president of the Linn County Republican Women and served on the Republican Central Committee. During the 1988 presidential election, she was the 18th precinct caucus chairman and was featured on C-Span and in the New York Times. Aside from her strong commitment to serving her community, her personal interests were reading and gardening. She also had a beautiful collection of dolls and elephants. Eileen and her husband were married for over sixty years at the time of Paul's death. As a couple they traveled extensively both in the United States and overseas, visiting China, Russia and many European cities. They also enjoyed relaxing at their small cabin on the Wapsipinicon River. Eileen will be remembered for her desire to touch the lives of others through teaching, volunteerism and compassionate outreach. She was a generous woman with a kind heart. Her hearty sense of humor, spunky attitude and robust laughter were her signature features. Her most important roles were that of loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was truly the kind of mentor, mother and grandmother every child should have.

A memorial fund has been established.

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