Jean K. Fooks, 83, a resident of South Philipsburg, died Saturday, June 1, 2013 at Colonial Courtyard, Tyrone. Born April 23, 1930, she was a daughter of the late Lawrence L. and Ella (Lupton) Kinkead.
On Feb. 14, 1958 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Philipsburg, she married Robert Stephen Fooks. He survives at home.
Also surviving are a daughter, Ella Ann Forcey and her husband, Lynn of Philipsburg and a granddaughter, Stephanie Forcey.
She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother and a brother, Donald B. Kinkead.
She was a 1948 graduate of Philipsburg High School. She retired Oct. 1, 1997 from Simler Insurance Agency, Philipsburg, where she worked as an agent.
She led a life of service to her family, her church and her community. A devoted wife, mother, daughter and friend to many, as a life-long resident of Philipsburg, she was committed to supporting and improving the community.
Service to family began at a young age as caregiver to her mother and continued throughout her life, as she provided care and support for parents, in-laws, friends and neighbors.
Service to church was evidenced through an active membership at Trinity United Methodist Church, Philipsburg, that included a wide-range of committee positions, financial posts, Methodist Women’s’ Circle of Faith, Harmony-Wesley Sunday School group and outreach ministries including Angel Food Ministries.
In service to her community, the list is extensive: a member and past president of General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Philipsburg Council of Republican Women, North Lincoln Hill PTO, Philipsburg Bicentennial Committee, Philipsburg Heritage Days Committee, Philipsburg Revitalization Committee and most notably a member and past president of the Philipsburg Area Hospital Auxiliary.
As an active member and past-president, her service in the auxiliary included supporting the addition of a new wing to the then Philipsburg State General Hospital and she was instrumental in the opening and operating of the snack bar. Proceeds from the Snack Bar’s successful operation and the auxiliary’s fundraising efforts resulted in the purchase of many pieces of equipment for the hospital, furnishings for waiting rooms and the chapel and funding for the Philipsburg School of Nursing scholarships.
She had been previously honored for her service as a recipient of the Philipsburg Business and Professional Women’s Club Woman of the Year Award and the Philipsburg Revitalization Committee’s Volunteer of the Year Award. An appropriate summary to this noteworthy list of accomplishments is to use the words spoken by her dear friend and cousin, Margaret Dunlap, when she presented Mrs. Fooks with the Woman of the Year Award, “Jean is a woman of great strength and dignity that is never too tired or too busy when called to serve her community.”
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the David K. Dahlgren Funeral Home, 228 N. Centre St. Philipsburg, with the Rev. Brenda K. Leigey officiating. Burial will be in the Philipsburg Cemetery.
Friends will be received from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 a.m. until the hour of services Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 465, Philipsburg, PA 16866 or to the Philipsburg Heritage Days Committee, P.O. Box 631, Philipsburg, PA 16866.
Online condolences may be made at www.dahlgrenfuneralhome.com.