There will be a celebration of life on September 9, with visitation services from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Holmeswood Baptist Church, 9700 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri. Interment will follow at Mount Moriah Cemetery South, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri.
Ilene was born December 31, 1916, in Sabetha, Kansas to Albert and Bertha (Curren) Bestwick. She graduated from Oneida High School of Oneida, Kansas. She married the love of her life, Ralph Bartley in 1950. They shared 21 years of marriage before his passing in 1971. During World War II, Ilene worked at Remington Arms. She worked for Farmers Insurance Company and in 1951, she was selected as queen of the Midwest Ball by its 440 employees. Ilene worked for Farmers Insurance for 33 years, retiring in 1981. She was a member of the Holmeswood Baptist Church of which she dearly loved her church community and Sunday school classes. An accomplished ballroom dancer, Ilene attended dance competitions with her dance instructor, John Berry.
Ilene and her husband Ralph, were avid Chiefs fans, and had season tickets to the Kansas City Chiefs since the very first game, at the old stadium downtown. After her husband’s death, Ilene continued to attend Chiefs games taking her nephews and nieces. She and her husband also had season tickets to Kansas University football games sitting on the 50 yard line.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph Bartley; two brothers: Wilbur Bestwick and Charles Bestwick; and three sisters: Kathryn Wagner, Florence Lancaster, and Jean Hodges.
Ilene is survived by her nieces, nephews, and friends, who all adored her so very much, and whom she spoiled so greatly.
