Jean Postlethwaite
is honored with a Brick from Wichita N.O.W.
September 26, 1928 - December 30, 1997
The Wichita chapter of National Organization for Women offers this tribute to a recent leader of our chapter, Jean Bell Postlethwaite.
When it came to social justice issues, especially for women and seniors, we'll long remember Jean as action-oriented. She was unafraid to appear before governmental bodies, in parades and demonstrations, or to offer client support at the women's clinics under siege by religious extremists. She would say that since she didn't have to worry about harassment or advancement on a job, she would "take the heat" if others who couldn't appear out-front would use their talents and gifts in ways to work for the same goals.
Behind the scenes, too, she was a tireless worker, whether soliciting funds for an individual in a crisis situation or to effect changes in the political system.
When Jean became active in NOW, she had already helped start the neighboring city of Bel Aire, served six years on its city council, and was the town's historian. She and her husband Darrell had a grown son and daughter, and were caring for four horses and land for stables, grazing, and vegetable raising. They shared the workload; she could pitch hay and tend an animal's sore leg as well as her husband could. We recall that often her phone calls helping a woman find legal or medical resources through NOW would be handled from one of the horse stables.
Over the years, Jean served as Wichita NOW treasurer, manager of our organization's concession stand, membership co-chair, and two terms as president, claiming these activities helped her see how women were discriminated in many avenues of daily life, from education to the workplace, and from marriage to church affairs. Then she resolutely put her time and energy to the tasks of eliminating those inequities.
We strongly agree with her daughter Susan, who admired her mother, calling her "a woman who was highly ethical and had a great sense of fairness."
August 31, 1998
