Jean German

Ruby Jean Howard German, 89, died peacefully September 10, 2015, at her residence at The Gardens. Jean was predeceased by her parents Lettie Denny Howard and Harold Angus “Red” Howard and her husband, Frank German. She is survived by cousins Robin (Mark) Potter of Annapolis, MD; Robin’s daughters: Morgan Lynn (Anya Lakner) and their sons Lucca and Rowan; Drs. Annie (Jeremiah) Ray of Salt Lake City, UT, and their daughters Rosalyn and Noemi; Edward Johnson of Douglasville, and the Rev. Guy Kent of Calhoun.

Jean was born in Decatur and moved to Dalton when she was four years of age. She graduated from Dalton High School in 1943, received a B.S. in Biology from Shorter College, then attended Duke University where she earned a licensed medical technologist certificate. After working as a medical technologist in Atlanta for several years, she moved to Austin, Texas. She was at the Blood Assurance agency when the Tower shooter killed innocent people at UT. Realizing that her essential tremor diagnosis might interfere with her biochemistry work, she entered the University of Texas and earned a Master of Clinical Social Work degree. She was working at the State Children’s Hospital in Denton, Texas, when she met and married Frank, who was an electrical engineer. In 1974 she and Frank moved to Dalton, and Jean was only the second MSW in the community. She worked as a social worker for a number of Dalton community, non-profit agencies, including Parent and Child Center, Alzheimer’s Association, Family Crisis Center and Dalton Dialysis Center. She retired twice, then volunteered for many service agencies and her church. No wonder then she was honored as Northwest Georgia’s Social Worker of the Year.

Jean was life-long member of the First United Methodist Church of Dalton where she initiated several outreach programs and sang in the choir and Sounds of Joy.

Memorial Service for Mrs. Jean German will be held Sunday afternoon, October 4, at 3 p.m. in the Chapel of First United Methodist Church, with the Reverend Dr. Robin Lindsey officiating. Family visitation will be in the Atrium of the church from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the First United Methodist Church, 500 South Thornton Avenue, Dalton, GA 30720 or to the Alzheimer’s Association of Dalton, 922 East Morris Street, Dalton, GA 30721.

Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com.
Love Funeral Home, 1402 N. Thornton Ave. Dalton is in charge of arrangements.