Norma Jean Bookhout

Norma “Jean” Bookhout, age 89, of Worthington, Ohio died Monday, October 3, 2022, at home with her family, after a valiant 6-month battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. She was born November 11, 1932 in Fairfield, IL, daughter of Dorothy and Robert “Victor” Smith, where she was the drum majorette at Fairfield High School. Her parents preceded her in death, along with her husband Ted Bookhout (2018). Survivors include son Paul (Christy) Bookhout of Worthington, OH, and daughter Jill Bookhout of Westerville, OH. Jean attended Southern Illinois University, where she met Theodore (Ted) Bookhout of Salem, IL. They were married September 5, 1952 in Fairfield, IL. They moved to Frederick, MD (1954), Ann Arbor Michigan (1958), LaVale, MD (1959), and then settled in Worthington, Ohio in 1964.

Jean was a 57-year member of the Worthington Women’s Club, the Worthington Jaycees, the Jaycees Wives Club, and Jaycees Bowling League. Jean worked at Anthem/Blue Shield in Worthington as a claims examiner, and later as a supervisor. After retirement from Anthem, she and Ted purchased a motorhome and visited many of the National and State Parks throughout the US, as well as driving the Alaskan Highway and spending winters in Ft Myers Beach, FL, and Port Aransas, TX. She enjoyed traveling with her family via land trips and cruises all over Europe and Latin America including Scotland, Sweden, Ireland, Italy, the Greek Islands, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Aruba. Aside from travelling, her main hobbies included gardening (and keeping her yard in pristine condition) and going to auctions/estate sales.

Jean requested no public funeral services. The family will hold a private memorial service at the Worthington Presbyterian Church Columbarium. Arrangements by SCHOEDINGER WORTHINGTON CHAPEL.