Jean Ann Pendleton, 69, of Bowling Green, passed away on Thursday, January 13 at the Northwest Ohio
Hospice Center in Toledo. It was the end of a 15-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Her legacy of love and caring lives on in her husband of 46 years, John T. "Tom" Pendleton of
Bowling Green , as well as her three boys: Tom, of Bowling Green; Neil, of Western Springs, Illinois;
and Jim, also of Bowling Green. Along her journey she gained two daughters through marriage, Karen
Pendleton and Aileen Pendleton, who completed her family brood and brought her untold joy. They, in
turn, gave "Mimi" five grandchildren who became the light of her life. Brother Robert Wells of
Bethesda, Maryland, also survives.
She was preceded in death by her parents James Adair and Freda Marie Wells.
Born on November 30, 1941 at Wheeler Field in Hawaii, Jean was one of the youngest survivors of the
attack of Pearl Harbor at one week old. After her father returned from World War II, they lived in
Arcanum, Ohio. With a passion for music, she attended BGSU as a music education major and met her
soon-to-be husband Tom in 1963. They were married the following summer in June 1964 and started their
family in 1965 with the birth of Tom in BG.
After a move to Illinois, Neil was born in 1970 and Jim in 1973. With Jim’s diagnosis of Down Syndrome,
Jean became actively involved with his education as an advocate for people with special needs.
In 1977 the family returned to Bowling Green where Jean took a job driving a bus for Wood Lane School and
became very involved with the Wood County Board of Mental Retardation.
After returning to BGSU and earning her teaching certificate in Special Education, she began teaching
pre-school and elementary school-aged special needs kids who became her focus and passion for the next
20 years as a teacher. Her love for work and family were recognized in 1979, when she was honored by
Ohio Governor James Rhodes as Wood County’s Mother of the Year. In 1982, she and her family were honored
as the Bowling Green Family of The Year.
Children were always the center of her life. First her own children, and then after they were grown the
children in her classes became her focus. Like many teachers do, she would carry items in her car to
give to her children as rewards for their work, or offer little art projects for home, or a special
treat for them to take to their families. As a teacher Jean valued each child as an individual and wrote
lesson plans each day tailored to that child’s specific needs.
In all phases of her life, music was a constant. From her marching band days at BGSU to her love of organ
music, to the requirement that her children learn at least one musical instrument, Jean saw music as not
just a part of life, but an important piece of life. Playing Handbells was a favorite pastime and she
participated in many choirs over the years both locally and at regional Handbell festivals. Organ music,
classical music, and choral music were also dear to her. As a result, most peoples’ memories of Jean
include some form of music. Even in her last days, music still permeated her disease’s grip as evidenced
by a tapping foot or a smile on her face.
Her five grandchildren, Tucker, Hunter, Hudson, Ellie and Katie plus many other "adopted
grandkids" of beloved in-laws and friends, brought her constant and endless joy.
Her quiet, cheerful style and grace will be missed by all.
A Celebration of Life will be held on January 29th at the First Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green,
starting at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorials be sent to Hospice of Northwest Ohio at 30000 East
River Road, Perrysburg, OH 43551.
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