Jean Marie Haddock Hitchens, 97, passed away peacefully with her niece and family at her bedside on April 24, 2021.
Born in Connellsville, Pa., Jean lived the majority of her early years in Morgantown, graduating from high school in 1941. She then was selected to serve as a G-girl in Washington, D.C., during World War II as a legal secretary. After completing her B.A. in education from West Liberty College in Wheeling, she became a pioneer in the field of special education, having the first autistic child entered into the Columbus Public School system. Retiring in 1987, Jean pursued long awaited interests such as antiquing, the symphony, opera and traveling to Europe with her book club. Always up for new adventures, Jean, at 92, moved across the country to live with her niece and family in the west.
She is survived locally by her niece, Leslie LaCour; two grandnieces; one grandnephew; one great-grandniece; two great-grandnephews; and cousins, Barbara Martin, of Kearneysville, Regis Rimlinger, of Springboro, Ohio, and former spouse Robert Hitchens, of St. Petersburg, Fla. Jean was preceded in death and is now reunited with her parents, Charles William and Anna O’Haver Haddock, and sister, Betty Ellen McArdle.
Anyone who came into contact with Jean became better for it as she was passionate about detail. Her heart was full of compassion towards animals and the vulnerable. No funeral services will be held. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to your local Humane Society or to the Walla Walla Community Hospice.
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