Jean Garnet Funkhouser was born on November 11, 1921, the youngest of Dahl and Ruth Creed Cooper’s four children. She graduated from Struthers High School as Valedictorian in 1939 and attended Oberlin College and Ohio University.
She received her teaching credentials in 1942 and taught in the elementary grades for six years. One of her major lifelong interests was in children’s education, particularly at the primary level where the basic foundation for future scholastic success is developed.
Jean and Lawrence W. Funkhouser were married in Struthers, Ohio, on June 1, 1946. They were the parents of four children — Donald, Thomas, David and Karen — and the proud grandparents of five grandsons and a granddaughter.
Following Larry’s graduate work at Stanford University, they joined the Standard Oil Company of California family in 1948 and experienced the geologist’s life style, including 17 transfers with major stops in New Orleans, Midland, Houston, and San Francisco. From 1969 to retirement in 1986, she accompanied Larry on frequent exploration trips to all parts of the world. She enjoyed her role as an unofficial Chevron ambassador, through which she met political leaders, national oil company officials, industry partners and Chevron employees in all areas where Chevron operated.
After retirement, Jean joined Larry in many happy years of association with AAPG and the AAPG Foundation, including his term as AAPG President in 1987-88 and as Chairman of the Foundation from 1990 to 2001. She attended every AAPG Convention for 33 years.
Jean Funkhouser was fatally injured in an automobile accident on the island of Maui on February 27, 2003. Many friends and associates have contributed funds to establish the Jean G. Funkhouser Memorial Grant. It will be awarded annually in her memory to a student pursuing graduate studies in the Earth Sciences.