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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

End of good run

Finch Elementary School is losing its fixtures on the corner of Alberta Street and Providence Avenue. Irene and Charles Auton, the crossing guards who have been reporting to work at the residential intersection since 1991, have decided to make Friday their last day.

“I don’t think people realize what it’s like,” Charles said. “The cold, the traffic … drivers going 50 and 60 in a 30 (mph) zone on Garland.

“We’ve decided to call it a day.”

But, oh, what a run the couple have had, assisting and acquainting themselves with generations of neighborhood kids.

The Autons, both English, moved to Spokane in 1984 to be closer to their only daughter. It wasn’t long afterward that they started volunteering around the corner at Finch. Nearly 15 of those years have been spent as crossing guards, orchestrating with their fluorescent orange and yellow-trimmed flags like Juilliard-trained conductors.

Each school day, with Charles arriving on bicycle and his wife on foot, the couple control traffic between 8:30 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 3:30 p.m. Fridays have turned into the Autons’ candy giveaway day, but “only if they’re good,” Irene said.

Age has caught up with Charles, 84, and Irene, 79. Winter had never cut to the bone quite like this December.

“Yesterday was the coldest day I’ve ever known,” Charles said about last week’s arcticlike conditions. “I was frozen.”

He also was without his co-worker and lifelong love, Irene, who missed work last week after falling on the ice and bruising her hip.

The Autons don’t want to go out with any fanfare. They don’t expect to be presented gold-sequined guard vests on their last day.

However, they are planning one celebration. Christmas and their wedding anniversary fall on the same day. This Christmas will mark their 57th.