Ivarene Bateman

1904 - 2015

Bateman, Ivarene SAN DIEGO -- When Ivarene was born in Kansas in 1904, Ford had just produced its first Model B the very first car to have a front engine; Wilbur and Orville Wright built the Flyer II, the second powered aircraft; Dr. Suess was born; Cy Young pitched the very first perfect game; the very first subway train emerged in New York; and the very first New Year's Eve celebration was held in Time Square. 15 years later, in 1919, when she and her family moved to San Diego, World War I had just ended; Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees; Ida Bailey had a thriving brothel in the Gaslamp; and the Navy made San Diego its Pacific Fleet home base. The Naval Hospital and the San Diego Zoo opened for the first time; the San Diego and Arizona Railroad was completed when John D. Spreckels drove the final golden spike; and the population in the City of San Diego was only 74,000. By the time the first of her children was born in the 20's, Mission Bay was being created, the El Cortez opened and the Star of India arrived in San Diego. The Fox Theatre opened, and Presidio Park was dedicated. San Diego's population had already increased to 210,000. By the time her grandchildren began to appear in the late 40's and early 50's, the Natural History Museum, Old Globe, and Del Mar Fairgrounds had been built; World War II began and ended; the first Jack in the Box opened on El Cajon Boulevard; the El Cortez built the world's first outside glass elevator; and Interstate 8 opened from east county through the dairy fields of Mission Valley and on to Mission Bay. By then Ivarene had settled with T.O. Senior on Bayside Walk and her life revolved around the San Diego Yacht Club, La Grulla Gun Club, Estero Beach, Salton Sea, the Lionesses, Anthenium, needlepoint, her friends and family. That continued until she and T.O. moved to Mt. Helix and she traded the sands of Mission Bay for gardening and fruit trees. During her 95 years in San Diego, it is hard to comprehend the changes she saw and events she witnessed around the world, the nation, and in her City but she stayed on top of it all starting each day by reading the San Diego Union Tribune up until she was well past 105 and her eyes would no longer focus on the tiny print. Ivarene could have been a monarch she bore an uncanny resemblance to Queen Elizabeth and, as one would expect from royalty, she was always perfectly mannered, the perfect hostess, perfectly put together jewelry, nails, clothes and shoes. She cherished her Asian furniture and art, loved her gourmet food and Rob Roys. Her glass of scotch on her 110th birthday was the best part of that day for her. Always stiff upper lipped, undaunted and unflappable mostly private and rarely emotional, she was to the end as Tom Jr. said, "A tough ole bird" And yet there is no doubt that she left each one of her children, grandchildren, great and great greats their own cherished memories and an afterglow of smiles. Ivarene passed away peacefully on January 14, 2015. She was preceded in death by her husband, T.O. Bateman Sr., her son, Tom, Jr., daughter, Connie Gottschall, and her grandson, Tom. She is survived by her son, Charles, five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren.