Irma North Bendock

Irma North BENDOCK Irma North Bendock, age 92, passed away peacefully on April 17th at the Ida Culver House Broadview Health Care Center in Seattle. Irma was born on January 28, 1920 in Tacoma, the second child of Carl and Margaret North. She attended Willard Elementary School, Stewart JR. High School and Lincoln High School, graduating in 1937. During high school she worked at the Bee Hive Fountain (across the street from Lincoln High School) to earn money for college. Summers were spent in Arletta, WA with her grandparents and cousins. She enjoyed and spoke often of riding the Centinel Steamer from the 11th Street Bridge (Coleman Dock) in Tacoma (for 10 cents) before the Narrows Bridge was built. In 1938 she enrolled in Pacific Lutheran College (PLC), now Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), graduating in 1941 witha degree in elementary education. That same year she began her teaching career at Vaughn Elementary School in Purdy. Over a 40 year span (with several years off to raise a family) she taught kindergarten thru 2nd grade in the Tacoma, Seattle, and Shoreline School Districts. She had a particular interest in screening/identifying SLD children at an early age. There are very many former students who credit their academic success to her effort in ensuring they received the help they needed. She received her Masters Degree in Teaching from Seattle Pacific University in 1970. She retired from the Shoreline School District in 1980. She loved every moment of her teaching career. In 1946, she married Charles G. Bendock in Penns Grove, New Jersey. They moved back to the Seattle area in 1948, ultimately settling in the Wallingford area. They divorced in 1961. While raising her 3 sons (single handedly) she was actively involved in cub scouts, boy scouts, and the PTA. She was a woman of great faith and had trust in the Lord. While living in Wallingford, she was an active member of the Central Presbyterian Church and loved singing in the church choir. Music was a major enjoyment of her life. In more recent years she belonged to the University Presbyterian Church. After retiring, her spirit of adventure led her to much traveling, particularly Norway, Hawaii, Canada, and Alaska. She drove (solo) up and back the Al-Can Highway to Fairbanks twice in her favorite 1971 VW Westfalia camper van named "Irma". At 55 she took up golf to do something new and made ahole-in-one on the Jackson Park Par-3 Course. She also began walking with friends each morning at the Northgate shopping mall. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, and crocheting making assorted gloves, hats, and sweaters for all her extended family. She also knitted hats for "preemies"at Children's Hospital. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed curling at the Granite Curling Club in Seattle. She enjoyed a full plate of activities for "retirement". Known for her zest for life and independent/upbeat personality she was an inspiration to us all. Her kindness, warmth, and smile will never be forgotten. She will be dearly missed. However, we know that she is happy and at peace in the arms of the Lord. Irma is survived by her brother Martin North of Tacoma; 3 sons, Charles Bendock of Seattle, Terry Bendock of Port Angeles, and Jeff Bendock of Salt Lake City, Utah; 2 grandsons, Charlie T. Bendock, and Jeffrey C. Bendock; 3 granddaughters, Kelly Bendock, Brooke Oberg, and Lois Bendock-Yang; 6 great grandsons, Leo, Eli, Blake, Jeremiah, Isaac and Nickolas; and 2 great granddaughters, Ginger and Coco. The family of Irma Bendock would like to thank all of her friends, extended family members, and especially the wonderful staff at Ida Culver House Broadview in Seattle for their loving care and comfort over the past several years. A memorial service will be held on April 27th at 11:00 AM at Mountain View Memorial Park, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd S.W., Lakewood, WA; followed by a reception at their Celebration of Life Center. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to your favorite charity or to the University Presbyterian Church.