Betty Jean Rouch McConnell, the second of three daughters and one son born to Frank and Alma Rouch, went to be with the Lord on September 1, 2022, after a short illness. She was 92 years old.
Jean grew up in the Hackney, KS farm area and attended rural schools through 8th grade. She then went to high school At Winfield and graduated in the Class of 1949, where she met her future husband, Charles McConnell.
Charles went to Navy Flight School, graduated in February 1953 and the two were married on May 31, 1953. They both went to San Diego where Charles did two tours aboard aircraft carriers and Jean made the home and took care of Mark while Charles was away. They bought their first home in San Diego before returning to Wichita so Charles could complete college. Jean was a loving mother, and family member with other members nearby.
Charles got into the Kansas Air Guard and was recalled to active duty in 1962, in the Air Force. Their next assignment as Bitburg, Germany and Charles went to get a house while Jean and Mark, and now Steven, followed in February 1965.
Jean made a great home on the economy and then on base. They traveled quite a bit in Europe to France, Netherlands, Lux, Belgium, and other spots. Jean did a lot of driving in the area to get supplies for the kids and for sightseeing. She made a trip to Israel in 1967 just before the 6-day war.
The family came back to the states in 1967 and located in Wichita. Charles went to SEA for a year and then they returned to head to Fayetteville, NC for another new start. Jean loved the southern style and had a hard time leaving for Tucson, AZ the next year. She did a great job in the home always making things work out just right.
The next year it was off to Dayton, OH and another new home. Charles went to AFIT and then they returned to Fayetteville, NC where Charles was working with the Army.
Charles then had to go to Korea for a year and Jean and the kids set up a new home in Wichita. Then another new home at Ft. Riley before retiring in 1978. It was during this time they went to First Free and became acquainted with the group that started GraceFirst.
Charles and Jean moved to a home north of Rose Hill for 16 years and Jean did another great job of taking care of all the household needs. By now, both Mark and Steven were in college and there were new things happening all the time.
Jean did a great job of making it all work out and they even had some time for a bus tour here and there.
The last move for both was to the city of Rose Hill and they’ve been there 26 years. She really liked it and things were well until Margie (her older sister) passed away in 2017. It was at this time that Jean broke a wrist and I think her health started going downhill. She later had a light stroke and broke a hip. It seems she always had pain from that.
Jean was such a loving wife, mother, family member that she will be so missed by all. We love her.
She had talents such as music, singing, decorating, and making people feel at home with a loving and helpful spirit.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Alma Rouch, and sister Margie Smith. She is survived by her husband Charles McConnell, sons Mark and Steven McConnell, brother Marvin Rouch and sister Phyllis Griffith.
Funeral services 10:30 Thursday, September 8, at GraceFirst Church, with visitation beginning at 9:15 at the church. Interment will be in Highland Cemetery in Winfield.
Memorials are established with Paralyzed Veterans of America, PO Box 758589, Topeka, KS 66675, and with Public Advocate of the U.S., PO Box 1360, Merrifield, VA 22116.