Irene Egner Bolam

Irene Egner Bolam, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and faithful friend passed on August 1, 2022, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Born to Percy Egner and Edith Egner on November 21, 1932, in Topeka, Kansas, Irene attended Washburn University in Topeka, where she met and married Edwin Aley. Together, they raised three children: Dr. Stephen Aley (El Paso, Texas), Dianne Rapp, and Amy Curry (both of Wichita, Kansas).

Irene and Edwin were stationed at Air Force Bases in the Pacific, the United States, and Germany. In 1964, Irene married John W. Bolam, an electrical engineer, adding John’s children William Bolam (San Diego, California) and Jean Bolam (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) to her family. Irene and John built a waterfront home on Merritt Island, Florida, where they enjoyed beautiful views, including rocket launches from Kennedy Space Port, and a mountain home in Mooresburg, Tennessee, where they frequently summered. They traveled extensively in the Pacific, South and North America, and Europe. John passed in 2006. In her later years, Irene was married to Glenn Plymate of Independence, Oregon. After Glenn passed, Irene moved to be near her daughters in Wichita. Irene was a civil secretary, licensed real estate agent, corporate director and officer, and a licensed pilot. She had a life-long interest in Amelia Earhart and actively participated in the Amelia Earhart Society in Atchison, Kansas.

Irene is preceded in death by her parents, husbands, sister Dorothy Ogan, and brother John Egner. She is survived by her children and stepchildren, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, a niece and nephews, and many friends.

Irene will be interred beside John Bolam in Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge, Florida. Services will be held there on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 11 am. For additional information, please contact Dr. Stephen Aley at saley@utep.edu.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FloridaMemorialFH-Gardens.com for the Bolam family.