Iona Luella Elvina Bartlow, of Huntsville, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2020, in her 90th year. Mrs. Bartlow was born in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada, the fifth of eight children of Kenneth Ray and Charlotte Annie Sampson Bright, both deceased. She grew up on the Bright family farm outside Campbellford, ON and attended a nearby one-room schoolhouse. She attended high school in Campbellford, ON.
Starting in 1953, she worked for the Canadian Government in Ottawa, ON, and was subsequently posted to the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC, in 1955. She met Robert Wilson Miles, a native of Virginia, in Washington, and they were married by her brother, the Rev. Clinton Bright, in Campbellford, ON in 1956. In 1958, they moved to Huntsville, and here Mrs. Bartlow joined the International Women’s Club, Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority, Welcome Wagon Bridge Club and other bridge clubs, and Trinity United Methodist Church. She worked in the nursery of Central Presbyterian Church for many years – also raised three children of her own. She enjoyed playing Bridge, dancing, cooking, serving ESA, and traveling – making many trips home to Ontario and throughout North America, and cruising the world. She became an American citizen in 2000.
Mrs. Bartlow was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert, in 1988, and by two of her brothers, Morley Bright in 1973, and the Rev. Clinton Bright in 2002. She is survived by her husband, Basil Burleigh (Leigh) Bartlow, a native of Pennsylvania whom she married in 1989 in Huntsville, and their blended family of sons, Jeffrey Miles (Pam) of Madison, and Wilson Miles of Huntsville; daughter, Cherri Miles Patton of Hendersonville, TN; and stepsons, Byron Bartlow (Sue) of Madison, and Robert Bartlow (Shally) of Eagan, MN. Other survivors include her brothers, Eugene Bright (Betty) of Campbellford, ON, and Lyle Bright (Marie) of Marmora, ON, her sisters, Arlie Haggarty (Merle) of Frankford, ON, Joyce Latchford (Percy) of Cobourg, ON and Lauraine Bell of Kingston, ON; three grand-children; five step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and many friends.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2020 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home with the Rev. Mac Buttram officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN or to a favorite charity.
Due to the COVID-19 virus, seating may be limited; However, video will be live streamed thru https://www.facebook.com/LaughlinService.
