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Jeanie Wood Dolan
65, passed away in Ontario on Saturday, February 9, 2013, after a year-long illness. Jeanie was born in Santa Cruz on May 7, 1947. She attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1969. There, she also met her husband-to-be, Timothy Lyons Dolan, at a band party after a football game. Jeanie and Tim were married in 1970. Soon after, in 1972, a job for Tim at the San Marino Tribune brought them to Southern California. The couple settled in Upland in 1979, and they had two beautiful children, Betsy Dolan, born in 1976, and Grant Lyons Dolan, born in 1981. Betsy now lives in Burbank and Grant in Riverside. Tim preceded Jeanie in death in 1999.
For 24 years, Jeanie was a devoted first-grade teacher at Roynon Elementary School in La Verne, where she was named "Teacher of the Year" in 2011. She returned to school and earned a master's degree in curriculum development from Cal State Fullerton in 2006.
Jeanie loved music and came from a musical family. She started playing piano as a child and was particularly good at ragtime. She always had a piano in her classroom and enjoyed sharing music with her students. In 2007, Jeanie joined the handbell choir at Claremont United Church of Christ, becoming a member of that congregation soon after. She practiced, performed, and traveled with the choir – first to the 13th International Handbell Symposium in Orlando, Florida in 2008 and then the 14th Symposium in Osaka, Japan, in 2010. Despite her illness, Jeanie achieved her goal of performing with the handbell choir for Christmas Eve services this past December.
In addition to her children, Betsy and Grant, Jeanie is survived by her brother, John Andrew Wood, of Washington State, as well as two nieces, a nephew, a sister-in-law, and a brother-in-law. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
Services will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013, at Claremont United Church of Christ, 233 W Harrison Ave., Claremont. Friends welcome. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
Jeanie was a dear friend of mine from high school. I was her chaplain when she was Worthy Advisor in Rainbow Girls. I was trying To find her and am so sorry I was too late. She was a wonderful person. Marsha Roberts Allison
March 3, 2013
We are saddened to hear this, Mrs. Dolan was a wonderful teacher and Jada and I both loved being in her classroom. My Condolences and prayers to the family.
Bonnie Funk
February 26, 2013
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Mrs. Dolan (Jeanie). She taught both my daughter (14) and my son (9) during their 1st grade year at Roynon. We love you Jeanie and miss you. . . may you rest in peace. The Garcia Family
Jana Garcia
February 26, 2013
Thank you for being such a good teacher with my grandson, Patrick, last year. She has made a lasting impression on him.
Jemnifer Dabney
February 19, 2013
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