In Memory

Lillian Whitehouse (Lyle)

 

    

Joel E Ferris High School
Classes of 1966 - Present


Deceased Classmate: Lillian Whitehouse Lyle (Teacher)
Date Of Birth:
Date Deceased: 2002
Age at Death: 90
Cause of Death:
Classmate City: Spokane
Classmate State: WA
Classmate Country: USA
Was a Veteran: No
Survived By: Survivors include two daughters, Julie Tyrrell of Spokane and Jeanne Kammer of New Mexico; two stepsons, Richard Lyle of Idaho and Tom Lyle of California; two stepdaughters, Suzanne Rigos and Marriane Lyle, both of Seattle; 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Lillian Whitehouse Lyle, 90, longtime educator and the former dean of women at Whitworth College, a 62-year resident of Spokane, died Tuesday. She was born in Boise. She graduated from Boise High School in 1929 and from Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., in 1933. She began her teaching career in Amity, Ore., and St. Helens, Ore. She married Earl Whitehouse in 1937, and the couple lived in Walla Walla before moving to Spokane in 1940. Her husband died in 1950, and she returned to teaching. She taught kindergarten at Adams Grade School and then was the head teacher at Lincoln Heights School from 1953 to 1957. She earned a master's degree in education from Whitworth College in 1955. She also studied counseling at Eastern Washington State College, the University of Southern California and Stanford University. Mrs. Lyle was at Lewis and Clark High School for three years, then was a counselor at Sacajawea Junior High School until becoming dean of students at Ferris High School in 1963. She left the school district in 1965 to become the dean of women and associate dean of students at Whitworth College. While at Whitworth Mrs. Lyle founded the college's Women in Transition Program, the Senior Scholar Program and Elderhostel. She retired in 1980. She married Francis M. Lyle in 1979. He died in 1991. She served on the board of the Washington State School for the Deaf and the YWCA. She was on the National YWCA World Service Council. She was a member of Manito Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday School and was an elder. Mrs. Lyle was a member of the Spokane Association of Women Deans and Counselors, the Spokane Pharmaceutical Auxiliary, the PEO and Zonta. She received the YWCA Outstanding Achievement Award, the YWCA Lifetime Achievement Award, the Soroptomists' Women Helping Women Award and the Whitworth College Community Service Award. Published on 10/3/2002