Jean Nowlin, 98, of Mexico, passed away on Sun., Jan. 28, 2024, at Boone Hospital Center.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thurs., Feb. 1, at Arnold Funeral Home. Kent Henry will be officiating the service. Burial will follow in East Lawn Memorial Park.
Visitation will be held on Wed., Jan. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Jean was born on Oct. 31, 1925 in Clinton, Ill., the daughter of Patrick and Nellie Fern (Moberly) Ryan. On March 22, 1946 she married World War II Veteran, Ralph David Nowlin in Clinton, Ill. Ralph and Jean were married fifty-three years, until his death in 1999. They had three children, Pat, Fritz and Marga.
Jean was very active in her community serving as a 4-H leader for 50 years. She also served as the Northeast district director for the Missouri Extension Homemakers State Board of Directors and represented the Missouri Extension Clubs in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Jean also served as President and Treasurer of the Mexico Golden Kiwanis and served as the Missouri representative at the Golden Kiwanis International meeting in Taiwan in 2000. Jean was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. She also was a forty-year volunteer for the Audrain Medical Center Auxiliary, serving as President.
Survivors include two children, Fritz (Betty) Nowlin of Mexico and Marga (Stan) Hoelscher of Jefferson City; one daughter-in-law, Cathy Nowlin of Mexico; nine grandchildren, David Nowlin, Ryan (Christy) Nowlin, Windy (Scott) Newsome, Rich (Heather) Nowlin, Tanner (Ashley) Reinsch, Tyler (Patricia) Reinsch, Travis Woolridge, Kyle (Tiffany) Hoelscher, Cole (Raksmey) Hoelscher; 17 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren, with two additional on the way.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Nowlin; one son, Pat Nowlin; one grandson, Danny Woolridge; one brother, Bud Ryan and two sisters, Blackie Brewer and Tootie Eaton.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Mexico VFW Post 3772. Memorials may be sent in care of Arnold Funeral Home, 425 S. Jefferson Street, Mexico, MO 65265.
Online condolences may be left at www.arnoldfh.com
