COLUMBIA - Jean Burrow Puffenbarger, 90, a longtime resident of Columbia, South Carolina was called to eternal life on January 11, 2019. Jean was born in Long Beach, California in 1928 and attended Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina. There she was active in the Catholic student group and developed an interest and talent for oil painting. She received her nursing degree in 1951 from Saint Francis School of Nursing in Peoria, Illinois. Later that same year, she began her first position as a registered nurse in Beaufort, South Carolina. She received her commission as a Lieutenant in the medical corps of the United States Air Force. She met her husband, Ed, while assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. They were married in Beaufort, South Carolina in 1954. Together they raised nine children. Upon separating from the Air Force, Jean supported Ed in his military career and dedicated herself to her family and many years of military moves. After their final Air Force assignment at the University of South Carolina, they retired in Columbia where Jean has resided since 1976. Jean and Ed became founding members of Saint John Neumann Catholic Church. During her years in Northeast Columbia, Jean enjoyed golfing and attending dances with the Saraband Dance Club. Jean’s greatest enjoyment, however, was hosting visits from her many children and watching all her grandchildren grow up. Her family truly was her treasure. Jean remained in Columbia for 43 years living in Spring Valley and Turkey Pointe in the Wildwood community.
Jean is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Edward S. Puffenbarger, her mother, Marie B. Browne, her father John Giles Burrow, her step-father, Daniel A. Browne, and her step-sister, Jean B. Thompson. Laurel Jean will be lovingly remembered by her children: John (Diana) Puffenbarger of Fairfax Station, VA; Greg (Kathy) Puffenbarger of Millersville, MD; Doug (Gail) Puffenbarger of Charleston, SC; Ann (William) Potthast of Columbia, SC; Paul (Kim) Puffenbarger of Palm Beach, FL; Kent (Barbara) Puffenbarger of Elgin, SC; Mike (LeeAnn) Puffenbarger of Yorktown, VA; and Sara Puffenbarger Siciliano of Clover, SC; Chris (Lauren) Puffenbarger of Columbia, SC and her 19 grandchildren.
The family will receive friends during a visitation to be held at Dunbar Funeral Home, Northeast Chapel, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 14th. A Mass celebrating her life will be held Tuesday, January 15th, at 8:30 a.m. at Saint John Neumann Catholic Church on 100 Polo Road followed by a 10:00 a.m. burial at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations in memory of Jean B. Puffenbarger to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, www.mercyhome.org. The family would like to give special thanks to the nurses and staff at the Murray Suite of Palmetto Heart Hospital for their wonderful care of Jean. Also, special thanks to Jean’s new friends and the staff at the Atria Senior Living facility in Forest Acres that treated her with such kindness.
Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18