Dorothea "Jean" Zekas

With love and respect, World War II U.S. Navy veteran Dorothea "Jean" Johnson Zekas passed from this life on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at the age of 101 surrounded by her loving family after a stay in the Palliative Care Unit of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Plains Twp.

Jean was born in Kansas City, Mo., to parents, James Clay Johnson, a pipeline welder, and Donna Dorothea Hill Johnson, a secretary. By the age of 3, Jean was reading the comics section of the newspaper to her father and developing a lifelong love of reading in Calhoun, Mo., where she lived with her paternal grandmother when her parents found work following the construction of oil pipelines until she was 10 years old. Then, Jean rejoined her parents for a nomadic life with two-year stints in Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Ill.; and Minnesota before returning to be graduated as valedictorian with her Calhoun, Mo., classmates. After completing two years of schooling at Warrensburg State Teachers College, Jean was asked to rejoin her parents in Long Beach, Calif., when America entered World War II. She found employment at Douglas Aircraft as a real-life "Rosie the Riveter" before accompanying a friend who was enlisting in the U.S. Navy. A Navy recruiter asked her to take the tests with her friend as moral support. Before long, Jean was raising her hand and stating, "I solemnly swear."

Before her death, Jean proudly reflected that her time serving in the Navy as mailman 2nd class was the best decision she had ever made and was the happiest and most rewarding time of her life. She had learned discipline, self-confidence and respect for all while sending precious mail to sailors at duty stations around the world.

After the war, Jean met and married U.S. Navy Chief Charles Lewis Zekas and became a homemaker for 58 years prior to her husband's death in 2004. She lived in the independent living apartments in the Myers Manor section of Wesley Village for 19 years prior to her death. Jean enjoyed playing slot machines, reading several books a week and playing the occasional game of bingo. Jean enjoyed cruising to the Caribbean every year with her daughters and son-in-law, Bob Koviack, the last of which was this year after celebrating her 101st birthday.

Jean and her husband were parents to five children, Rosemary Isaac, Rowlett, Texas; Donna Drouse and her husband, Bob, Tarpon Springs, Fla.; Gail Evans and her husband, Gary, Kingston; Pam Koviack and her husband, Bob, West Pittston; and Peter Zekas and his wife, Donna, Auburn. Jean was grandmother to Ryan Evans and his wife, Kristen, Kingston; Kelly Evans, Forty Fort; Coal Morningstar, Pottsville; Peter Zekas and his wife, Ashley, Auburn; and Christopher Isaac, Washington state; and great-grandmother to great-grandsons, Jamie and Cameron Evans, Kingston.

Jean's last official act was signing a request for a mail-in ballot so that she could vote for the first woman president of the United States.

In lieu of flowers, Jean requested that people cast their votes for Kamala Harris for president.

Both Jean and her family want to thank, as well as salute, each of the staff in every department at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center for her excellent medical care, their friendly and compassionate nature, and the respect afforded her and her family, enabling her to reach the advanced age of 101. We want to particularly thank Dr. Sumit Ghosh, M.D.; Dr. Marianne Colvin, D.O.; and the entire 3E staff of the Hospice and Palliative Care Unit of the Community Living Center.

Private funeral arrangements are entrusted to Harold Snowdon Funeral Home, Shavertown.