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Jeanne Birtwhistle Rich

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Jeanne Birtwhistle Rich, 87, formerly of Waynesburg, Pa., died Monday, July 24, 2006, at Sunrise Assisted Living of Wooster, Ohio. She was born on May 2, 1919, in Englewood, New Jersey, the daughter of Thomas C. Birtwhistle and Mattie Shafer Birtwhistle.

She was a graduate of Douglas College in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1941. Prior to her marriage she taught Latin in public schools in New Jersey and worked as Field Secretary for her alma mater.

On November 24, 1948, she was married to Dr. Bennett M. Rich, then Professor of Political Science and founder of the Bureau of Government Research at Rutgers University. The Riches moved to Waynesburg in 1963 when Dr. Rich became President of Waynesburg College where he served until his retirement in 1974. Dr. rich died March 30, 1984.

Mrs. Rich was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg where she served as an elder and Sunday School teacher and was active in the Women’s Association. She was the first woman to serve as Moderator of Washington Presbytery. She served as the first Executive Director of Greene County Habitat for Humanity, was an original volunteer of Greene County Hospice and was a member of the Waynesburg Women’s Club.

Mrs. Rich is survived by her three children, Thomas Locke Rich and his wife Kathleen of Portland, Oregon, John Bennett Rich Dorean and his wife Merry of Jefferson, Pa., and Catherine Rich Meyer and her husband, Robert of Wooster, Ohio; ten grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Rich, Matthew Thomas Rich, David Peter Rich, Emily Rose Rich, Emily Rephael Bonner, Carrie Jane Dorean, Hannah Jeanne Dorean, Bethany Maria Dorean, Natalie Jeanne Meyer and Samuel John Meyer; and three great-grandchildren, Asa William Bonner, Phineas John Bonner and Samara Grey Bonner.

Friends will be received in the BEHM FUNERAL HOME INC., 182 West High Street, Waynesburg, Pa., Chuck Behm, Director, on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.

Following a private burial, a Resurrection Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 29, in the First Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg with the Rev. William Sukolsky and the Rev. David Barrett presiding.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages gifts in honor of Mrs. Rich be given to the First Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg or Greene County Habitat for Humanity.

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