Obituaries : * Ilene R. Gosney; Retired Teacher, 52-Year Resident

Ilene Rose Gosney, a retired educator who lived in Ventura County for half a century, has died. She was 85.

Gosney, a Camarillo resident, died Saturday at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura after a long illness.

A native of South Dakota, she began her career at age 19 in a one-classroom schoolhouse in Wyoming, where she taught grades 1 through 8, said her daughter, Cay Friederich of Camarillo.

After moving to Ventura County 52 years ago, Gosney taught for 26 years in the Oxnard Elementary School District.

Because of a shortage of teachers during World War II, Gosney was allowed to teach without a college degree, her daughter said.

Gosney was unable to finish college in her early 20s, but she went back to school in her late 40s to finish her education degree.

“We all went to her graduation at UC Santa Barbara,” Friederich said. “She had all of her children and grandchildren with her during the graduation ceremony. It took her three years, but she finished her education.”

In addition to Friederich, Gosney is survived by another daughter, Arlene Reich of Somis, sons-in-law LeRoy Friederich and Harold Reich, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary in Camarillo.