Jean Hoverson Vanderplas

Jean Vanderplas was born May 21, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois, the only child of Dr. Emil T. and Marces Elworthy Hoverson. She graduated high school at fifteen years of age, earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Illinois, and was awarded master’s and doctorate degrees in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, where she later worked as a researcher in gerontology and a lecturer in psychology.

Predeceased by her husband, James Martin “Van” Vanderplas, Jean Vanderplas is survived by four children, ten grandchildren, and five great grandchildren: Martin Fitch of Baltimore, Maryland; Cynthia Sheller of Olympia, Washington, and her two sons William of Seattle, Washington, and Elliot of Olympia, Washington; Brian Vanderplas of Old Lyme, Connecticut, his wife Lorraine Yurkewicz, his daughter Christina Strulowitz of New York City, her husband Jason and their daughter Bella; and Captain Steven Vanderplas, United States Coast Guard, retired, of Largo, his wife Deborah, and their children Samuel Vanderplas of Fort Worth, Texas, his wife Meredith, and their children Jackson, Theodore, Clara and William; Timothy Vanderplas of Bethesda, Maryland; Sarah Vanderplas of Baltimore, Maryland, and her husband Andrew; Abigail Vanderplas of Fairfax, Virginia; Joseph Vanderplas of Parkville, Maryland, and his wife Victoria; Electronics Technician (Nuclear) First Class Daniel Vanderplas, United States Navy; and Esther Vanderplas of Largo, Florida.

Jean Vanderplas was a member of Seminole Christian Fellowship in Largo. She was also an avid practitioner of martial arts, competing in Judo and studying the martial arts style Oom Yung Do even into her final years.

Funeral services arranged by Serenity Funeral Home will be held at Seminole Christian Fellowship, 10202 131st St. North, Largo, Florida, at 2 p.m., Sunday, January 13, followed by inurnment with her late husband at Bay Pines National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, friends may offer donations to Seminole Christian Fellowship in her name.