Jean K. Devalve

Jean Keller DeValve, happily married to the late Dr. Robert H. DeValve, was born in Tacoma, Washington on May 14, 1925 to Arthur and Marie (Pedersen) Keller. Jean entered safely into the arms of Jesus on Friday, May 10, 2024, four days short of her 99th birthday. Jean graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948. After graduation, Jean taught elementary school in Tacoma, Washington, then accepted an assignment teaching English to children in Cuba for two years. After returning from Cuba, she attended Fuller Seminary where she earned a Masters Degree in Religious Education in 1957. While at Fuller she also met and became engaged to Robert DeValve. The couple married in 1957 in Tacoma, Washington. In 1958 they moved to Ankara, Turkey, where Robert had accepted a teaching assignment in a Turkish Technical School. While in Turkey, Robert and Jean gave birth to their three oldest sons, John, James, and Timothy. After returning from Turkey, their youngest son, David, was born in Seattle, Washington. Jean was a teacher throughout her life. In addition to teaching in Tacoma and Cuba, she also taught with her husband in a mission school in Nigeria, West Africa, and in public elementary schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and East Hartford, Connecticut where she taught for 20 years. Jean was an active member of Trinity Covenant Church in Manchester, CT for more than 40 years where she was involved in various womans ministries and after retiring started a Seniors group called Primetimers. She also volunteered at the Manchester Memorial Hospital and the local food bank. Jean is survived by her four sons, John and his wife Nancy, James and his wife Beth Anne, Timothy and his wife Laurie, and David. Jean was also blessed to be the grandmother of 13 grandchildren (Daniel John, Suzanne, Benjamin, Daniel Robert, Andrew James, Caleb, Levi, Jacob, Seth, Dillon, Danae, Deanna, and Daria) and 22 great-grandchildren (Levi, Everett, Evelyn, Tera, Hezekiah, Ezra, Orion, Courtney, Melora, Noah, Miriam, Priscilla, Titus, Boaz, Noelle, Eliza, Norah, Hazel, Gideon, Adah, Phoebe, and Zebedee). Jean was predeceased by a sister, Muriel, and has three living sisters in Washington state, Beverly, Lucile, and Joyce, as well as many nephews and nieces. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 1st, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Covenant Church, 302 Hackmatack Street, in Manchester, CT. There will be no calling hours. Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Covenant Church Missions Fund. All are invited to a luncheon at the church following the service. To leave an online condolence please visit www.holmeswatkins.com







Services

Memorial Service
Saturday
June 1, 2024
10:30 AM to TBD
Trinity Covenant Church of Manchester