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1924-2025
WELLSVILLE -- Mildred "Jane" Reese died peacefully in her sleep at her home early Monday after blessing us with more than 100 years.
The eldest child of the late Charles and Delia (Adams) Reynolds, Jane was born Feb. 26, 1924 in Wellsville.
Although she attended Lisbon schools for most of her childhood, she graduated from Wellsville High School in 1942. She married the late Charles Reese on June 26, 1942 and when he served in the Army Air Corps, she followed him first to the Greenwood Army Air Field in Mississippi and then to Valdosta, Georgia. She worked for two years in civil service in communications at the bases while he served.
When he was sent to Bakersfield, Calif., on the way to Guam, she returned to Wellsville.
Loving and kind, Jane never met a stranger and made numerous friends everywhere she went. She was a member of the Yellow Creek Presbyterian Church, teaching Sunday school, serving as a deconist, with Lamplighters and Church Women United, and cooking baked steak dinners. She also was a member of the Yellow Creek Grange, helping with their annual applebutter efforts, and assisted with square dances and bingo at the Hillcrest Community Center. She loved to bake, garden, craft, crochette and sew, using her talents to make lovely wedding and prom dresses for family and dolls for hospitalized children. She traveled across the country for Pottery conventions, to Nashville for Fan Fests, and vacationed in Florida and Canada.
In early years she worked at the Reynolds Poultry Market, her family's business, and later she was a manager at the Hillcrest Florist. Both businesses were in Wellsville.
She is survived by her eldest daughter, Sandra Forbes, who cared for her in her final years; three granddaughters -- Deanne (Donald) Johnson, of East Palestine; Amanda (Bret) Bacon, of Ashley; and Denise (Chris) Lake, of Wellsville. She is also survived by her great grandchildren -- Kendra (Noah) Bard of Fayetteville, N.C.; Justin (Taylor) Bacon of Ravenna; Natasha (Joshua) Newlan-Lake of Wellsville; and Juliann Bacon of Ashley; as well as four great-great grandchildren -- Haleigh, Joshua Jr., Luke and Delilah. Also remaining is a sister-in-law, Jeanette Reynolds of East Liverpool, and two dozen nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband Charlie, who died Feb. 10, 1993, Jane was preceded in death by a daughter and a son-in-law, Linda (Terry) Newlan; a son-in-law, Dean Forbes; and her siblings -- a sister, Eileen (Paul) Witherow, and brothers James "Leo", John "Jack" (Dolly), and Donald Reynolds.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, at the Roberts Funeral Home with Pastor Dirk Hall of the Living Well Church officiating.
Burial will be at Yellow Creek Church Cemetery.
Family and friends may call from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Roberts Funeral Home, 631 Main St. in Wellsville.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Mercy Health Hospice of the Valley by Compassus, 9803 Sharrott Road, Youngstown, OH 44514.
You may view the obituary and send condolences online at www.robertsfuneralhomewellsville.com.
2/6/25