52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 4 - Education

The prompt for week 3 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is “Education”. There are a lot of ways I could have gone with this prompt. I could have talked about schools I’ve attended or career choices. I’ve decided to talk about a particular educator from my family tree—Lucile Hixon Striebel.

Lucile was born Leila Lucile Hixon in Michigan City, Indiana on November 26, 1896. She was the daughter of Julian Frank Hixon and Ella A. Herrold. Lucile was unusual for women of her time. After receiving her high school diploma, she went on to study education at Olivet College in Olivet, Michigan. She graduated with an A.B. degree in June 1918.
Lucile married Louis Daniel Striebel in Michigan City on June 27, 1922. At the time of her marriage, Lucile was teaching high school in Riverside, Illinois.
Lucile also held teaching certificates in the states of Michigan and Indiana. She taught into her 70s. In February of 1966 Lucile received a letter from the superintendent of the New Buffalo, Michigan school system. He wrote to remind her of the board’s policy: the retirement age was 65. The board felt that the policy should be implemented that year. However, in July she received a letter from the superintendent welcoming her back. She also received a probationary contract. She turned 70 in November of that year! Her Indiana teaching certificate was renewed for 5 years in 1970.

Lucile died in 1990 at the age of 93. She is buried next to her husband in Greenwood Cemetery in Michigan City.