Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1956-02-23
Soul of Rare Integrity,
Iona KepIinger, Dies

talent hidden or imperfectly de.
veloped; as a friend, she could
find goodness akin to the good
she priced; and as soul of rare
integrity and purpose, she could
make her own search show us
where our next steps should take
u.s."
With that eulogy by Rev. John
r. Baker, Mrs. Iona Miller KEEP
linger was laid to rest last month
after so years of life. But as
Rev. Baker said, "Such a woman
lives on among us and will al
ways live" Mrs. Keplinger will
live on through her paintings,
through the progressive educa-
tional steps in Montgomery Coun-
ty she fostered, and through the
other artists she nurtured to full
fillment.
Mrs. KEEP" was born in Hope,
Ind. and raised in Kansas. After
graduating as an art major from
Kansas University, she taught at
Lawrence, Kans. High School, and
husband Fred, now an 88-year old
retired patent attorney, moved to
Bethesda in 1909, year after
their marriage.
Mrs. Keplinger fell in love with
her new County and vice versa.
The Keplingers held perpetual
open house. Their tennis courts
have been open to all for 40 years.
1t became a custom for visitors
to the Keplinger community
center" to carve their initials on
the birch tree near the back door.
In recent years visitors have had
to climb high to find a blank
space.
Educational Influence
Mrs. Keplinger's influence on
the County educational system
was strongest in the '20s when
she was chairman of the educa-
don committee of the Federation
of Womens Clubs. longtime
County school superintendent Ed.
win w. Broome calls Mrs. KEEP
linger "A leading spirit in the
early stages of education in Mont.
gomery County" DR.. Broome
says she was most instrumental
in obtaining kindergartens in
County schools.
In going through her papers,
Mrs. Keplinger's family has un.
covered two other educational
projects she promoted: contest
in the schools to find the best
designed book-plate for texts, and
a contest = the schools to pro-
duce the best essay on Gen. Rich
ard Montgomery. The family is
mailing those essays back now,
80 years after the contest.
Among the entrants were James
Christopher, now a lawyer and
candidate for Circuit Court
Judge, and Antoinette Darby, now
Mrs. Antoinette McKeever, prin-
ciple of Woodland School.
Mrs. Keplinger also sought a
County library system 25 years
before such a system was actual.
ly established, and she urged in.
clusion of drawing in the school
curriculum.
A Talented Artist
Iona believed every artist
should first be able to draw"
says Mrs. Keplinger's brother, Ho,
ward Miller. The woman gave
advice she had followed for she
was of the realistic school OF
painters. But while many of her
pictures reproduced scenes with
Photographic exactness, they glow
with creativity. She worked fast
often completing a painting in
three or four hours.
Mrs. Keplinger had a keen eye
for color composition, especially
in her still-lifes of flower ar
rangements. Mr.. Miller says her
flower pictures are her best. He
reveals one of her secrets, "She
always put warm.colored flower
in the center"
In addition to painting flow
ers, Mrs. Keplinger went to New
England several times to paint
landscapes, quaint buildings, and
dock scenes. Once she went t.
California to paint the old mis-
sions. Not the least popular sub
ject of her pictures was the fam
lily estate, Summit Hall, in Gath
ersburg. She was working on q
painting of the old white mansion
on the estate when she died. What
she considered her two best pic
lures hang in front room al
Summit Hall.
Mrs. Keplinger never got rich
from her painting. "She prefer
red to lend her pictures, or give
them away, rather than sci
them" says Mr.. Miller. There
are few members of the family
who haven't received one o.
Lona's pictures for a gift"
Mrs. Keplinger's painting.
have hung and have taken prize.
at tho Arts Chih of NNachiputon