Ireta Jean Radabaugh Meredith, 93, died Sept. 23, 2022, after a short illness at Homewood Retirement Community in Williamsport, Md. Jean was born Dec. 12, 1928, in Masontown, W.Va., and was the only child of Elmer Edward Radabaugh and Mattie Isabelle Miller Radabaugh.
Jean graduated from Masontown High School in 1946. Following high school, Jean attended Fairmont State College, where she graduated with her RN degree in 1949.
Jean was the wife of the late Howard Joseph Meredith, of Monongah, whom she married in 1948. She worked as a private duty and office nurse in Fairmont for several years. Jean and her husband lived in Fairmont, Silver Spring, Md., and Towson, Md., before moving and retiring to Daytona Beach Shores, Fla., in 1979.
Jean was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Jean was sweet, kind, talented, tenacious and fun. Jean had many interests. She was active in Girl Scouts, Beta Sigma Phi, Marcota Dance Club, Sunday school, church choirs, Bible studies, garden clubs, bowling leagues, golfing, tennis clubs and even had time to win the tennis championship at her tennis club in 1987. Jean did all of this while happily raising five children.
Jean loved to knit. One year she knit at least 25 winter hats for everyone in her family. She also knit countless hats for Urban Ministries in Daytona Beach, Fla. She loved all animals, camping, babies and the beach. Jean was very joyful and loved life. Jean and her husband enjoyed boating, entertaining and traveling. Along with her husband, Jean was instrumental in founding the Morgantown chapter of Habitat for Humanity and creating the rail-trail in Masontown.
Jean is survived by her five children: Pamela Meredith, of Hagerstown, Md.; Katherine Donaldson (Gregg), of LaVale, Md.; Judith Knisely (Joe), of Glen Rock, Pa.; Howard Joseph Meredith Jr., of Phoenix; and Martha Horne (Chris), Mt. Airy, Md. She is survived by seven grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband and one grandchild.
Private services were held in Masontown, where Jean is buried in the Masontown cemetery alongside her husband and parents. Memorial donations may be made to the Morgantown chapter of Habitat for Humanity, to Hospice of Washington County, Md., or to the charity of your choice.
