Jo Ellen Ostendorf

Ms. Ostendorf was born in Blue Island, IL on October 26, 1951. The daughter of Charles Henry and Mildred Remig Ostendorf, she grew up in Tinley Park, IL and graduated from Tinley Park High School in 1969. She received a Bachelor of Science in Communications degree (1973) and Master of Library Science degree (1976) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Specialist in Library and Information Science degree (2001) from the University of South Carolina.

A distinguished leader in public libraries, she served on the Mississippi Library Commission, 1976-1987; was a Library Consultant, 1987-1991, and Associate Director, 1992-1997, for the Georgia Public Library Services; and was Director of the Troup-Harris Regional Library, LaGrange, GA, 1997-2011.

She held a number of leadership positions, including Treasurer of the Mississippi Library Assn., 1986-1987, and President, Georgia Library Assn., 2007. She was the founder (1981) of Friends of the Handicapped in Jackson, MS and started GOLD (Georgia Online Database) for resource sharing in Georgia libraries. In 2002 she received the prestigious Nix Jones Award from the Georgia Library Assn.

Ms. Ostendorf leaves numerous devoted friends and her beloved feline family, Ky, Noelle, Jack, Pippa, Juju, and Rosie.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. in the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary. The visitation will immediately follow in the Striffler-Hamby Mortuary Event room.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LaGrange-Troup County Humane Society.

Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.

Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636