Jean Van Volkenburgh
12/6/1919 - 3/10/2017

Jean Fish Van Volkenburgh went to join her husband, son, daughter, brother, sister and parents on Friday 3/10, born in Gambier, Ohio Dec 6, 1919, Jean Winifred Fish was raised in central and northern Ohio, daughter of a Hoover Sales Manager. The somewhat flighty sorority girl attended Marshall College and Michigan State University graduating with a degree in Home Economics in 1941. After a year and a half of working in various food service areas in the Cleveland area, she wedded her college sweet heart, Ross Van Volkenburgh on 12/26/42, and spent her honeymoon in a Pullman car traveling to Bartlesville, OK. After a transfer to the metropolis of Phillips, TX, her first son, William (Bill) was born. In 1946, the family moved to Columbus, OH where Jean supported the family as a secretary while Ross completed his PhD in Chemistry. In 1948, the family returned to Borger, TX and son Carl (1949) and daughter Lee (1951) were born. In 1956, the family moved to Baton Rouge, LA where Ross was employed by Copolymer Rubber. As the kids grew older, Jean rejoined the work force as a secretary for a local doctor. In 1963, tragedy struck when daughter Lee died suddenly with pupura while visiting grandparents in Fairhope, AL. In 1966 Jean became Chancellor's secretary at LSU. She served 3 Chancellors in this position over 20 years. She was president of LSU Secretarial Assoc. and a member or Executive Secretaries International. She was a recipient of the first sabbatical given by the SEC to a staff member and traveled to universities around the country to help define best practices for LSU. In 1986, she retired and moved with husband Ross to Fairhope, AL. where they were active in the Coast Guard auxiliary, the historical society, the hospital auxiliary and other civic organizations. In 1976, son Carl was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor while living in Austin. Though the tumor was successfully removed; subsequent scar tissue and radiation damage led to his eventual incapacitation and Jean spent the last several years of Carl's life caring for him prior to his death in 1995. In 2002, Jean and husband Ross became Lake Jackson residents, moving closer to her remaining son Bill and wife Ann. She is survived by son Bill, granddaughters Carlee Kuentsler {husband Wes) (League City, Tx), Sarah Leggett (husband Blake) (Christoval, Tx), Erin Van Volkenburgh (Pleasanton, CA) and grandson Brandon Van Volkenburgh (wife Jan) (Dallas, TX), 5 great granddaughters and 3 great grandsons.Through it all, she incorporated a strong sense of independence, faith in God and truthfulness in her children and grandchildren. Memorial services will be 2 p.m., Friday, March 24, 2017 at Chapelwood United Methodist Church with the Rev. Camarano officiating.

Obituary Provided By:

www.lakewoodfuneralchapel.com
info@lakewoodfuneralchapel.com
979-297-6464