Irene Helen (Prior) Wing

Irene Helen (Prior) Wing of Battle Creek, MI

Irene, age 98, died Thursday evening, October 5, 2017 at Brookdale Assisted Living of Battle Creek following a brief illness.

Irene, the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Coyer) Prior, was born in Battle Creek on March 11, 1919, the youngest of five children; was a 1937 graduate of St. Philip High School and was a lifetime resident. She had been employed at Richs Manufacturing making airplane valves as a "Rosie the Riveter" during World War II and retired in 1975 from the State of Michigan-Research Behavioral Lab, as a lab technician. Irene and her husband, Rex were founding members and faithful attendees of St. Jerome Catholic Church of Battle Creek. She was a member of the Battle Creek Hospital Auxiliary and Burnham Brook, now Kool Family Center. Irene was an accomplished painter in many genres and also enjoyed needlepoint, cooking, baking and putting up jam.

Irene was united in marriage to Rex R. Wing in Goshen, IN on August 18, 1938 and he sadly preceded her in death on July 12, 1984. Surviving is her daughter, Patricia A. (Jerry) Smith of Battle Creek; her son, Michael R. (Debi Masters) Wing of Bellevue, MI; four precious grandchildren, Amy Wolf, Shawn Smith and Brandon (Alexia) Smith, all of Battle Creek and Adam Wing of Peoria, AZ; four great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Irene was also preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Beatrice Eaddy and Eleanor Brook and two brothers, Dell and Howard Prior.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 10th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Jerome Catholic Church, 229 Collier Avenue, Battle Creek with Father Christopher J. Ankley, Celebrant. Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Battle Creek. Family and friends will return to the Church Social Hall immediately following the interment to continue Irene's life celebration with a time of fellowship and a luncheon. Irene's family will greet friends on Monday, October 9th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Battle Creek, where the Parish Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Irene's honor may be directed to the Humane Society of Southern Central Michigan, 2500 Watkins Road, Battle Creek, MI 49015 or the St. Jerome Catholic Church-Building Fund (See address above).