Jean C. Soule, 89, children's author, educator

Jean Conder Soule, 89, formerly of Springfield, Delaware County, a children's book author, poet, and educator, died of heart failure Sunday at Riddle Village, a retirement community in Media.

While raising a family in Springfield, Mrs. Soule wrote amusing verse about the joys and frustrations of child care, which were published in the Wall Street Journal and other newspapers and in magazines, including Good Housekeeping. In the 1960s, she began writing children's books in verse. "I think she thought in rhyme," said her daughter, Nancy Jean Tirell. She eventually published seven children's books and six books of poetry for adults.

Mrs. Soule also taught at local writers conferences and conducted writing seminars in elementary schools, and from 1978 to 1999, taught correspondence courses for the Institute of Children's Literature. She loved mentoring and was excited to see her students published, her daughter said.

After moving to Riddle Village in 1994, she conducted creative writing workshops and wrote poetry and interviewed new residents for Riddle's monthly magazine.

When her children's book

Never Tease a Weasel

, originally published in 1964, was republished last year, she read it to students in local schools.

She was a delightful and fun mother, her daughter said.

Mrs. Soule grew up in Southborough, Mass. While earning her bachelor's degree from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, she was a correspondent for the local newspaper, where she met her future husband, George Soule, a reporter there. After they married in 1942, the couple lived in Washington, where she helped edit the National Education Association's magazine. The Soules moved to Springfield in 1950.

In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Soule is survived by sons David and Douglas, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Her husband died in 1999.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 145 W. Springfield Rd., Springfield, Pa. 19064. Friends may call after 9:30 a.m. at the church parish house. Inurnment will be in the church columbarium.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. June 27 at the Town Hall of Riddle Village, 1048 West Baltimore Pike, Media.

Memorial donations may be made to the Church of the Redeemer.