Jean McStea Phelan was born January 23, 1930, the only child of Kathryn Perry McStea and David Woods McStea.
An avid learner and lifelong advocate of education, Jean graduated from Brentwood High School then Muskingum College in 1951. She was active with the Kianu Sorority her whole life. Jean later received her Master’s Degree in education from Penn State.
Furthering her education, Jean became a licensed Dietician. Jean taught at the Washington Hospital School of Nursing and worked for WIC in Washington and Greene Counties.
Jean was married to Richard Winnett Phelan for 61 years, and the couple had three daughters: Kathy Phelan Wells Orr, Nancy Lynn Phelan, and Barbara Jean Phelan. She also cherished her granddaughter, Anna Jo Phelan.
Throughout her life, Jean was very engaged in the community, and her faith was especially important to her. For 65 years, she was a member of the Church of the Covenant, participating in various levels of the Church and Presbytery, as well as in Presbyterian Women. Jean also served on the board of Residential Recovery Services, now a part of ARC, and was a member of the Current Events Club.
Jean joined The Church Triumphant on Saturday, October 8, 2022, with family by her side.
With a kind heart and a generous spirit, Jean created the Jean McStea Phelan Fund to ensure that she could perpetually support a few of her favorite charitable organizations. Annually, the fund will issue grants to Church of the Covenant, Citizens Library (specifically and exclusively for community activities and programs), Muskingum University, and the Washington Hospital Foundation.