Jean Dickerscheid

1932 - 2017

Dickerscheid, Jean
1932 - 2017
Dr. Jean Dearth Dickerscheid of Dublin, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend and mentor to many, passed away on Oct. 9, 2017, at the age of 85. Jean retired in 1995 as an Associate Dean of the Graduate School at The Ohio State University and Professor in the Department of Family Relations and Human Development. During her 31-year tenure at OSU, she worked tirelessly to improve the lives of children, women and families across the globe by focusing on child development, preschool education and cross-cultural socialization. Jean was a former Director of the Campbell Hall Child Development Laboratory, and a published author, researcher and graduate-student advisor who took a one-year sabbatical in 1981 to work as a visiting scientist for the USDA in Washington, D.C. In 1991 she received OSU's Presidential Citation for establishing the Critical Difference for Women Program that helps women advance their careers. Other honors include being listed in the Who's Who in Child Development Professionals, and being recognized by the American Home Economics Association with its AHEA Leader Award in 1987 and the Ohio Home Economics Association's Home Economist of the Year in 1990. Jean was a member of the International Federation of Home Economics; the National Association for Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors; and the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences; among others. After retirement, she was a visiting research professor in Rosarito, Mexico. Jean earned her Bachelor of Science (cum laude), Master's and Ph.D degrees in home economics from OSU, where she was selected as a member of Chimes, a national junior women's honor society; and Mortar Board, a national senior women's honors society. A talented seamstress and cook who was raised by her loving parents on a farm in Kingston, Ohio, Jean enjoyed traveling with her children and husband of 63 years; entertaining friends, family and foreign-exchange students; and volunteering for CAPA and Global Volunteers in Russia, China and Mississippi. She led OSU student-tour groups to study child care and education in six European countries, the Soviet Union, and Egypt. Jean is preceded in death by her parents Leslie and Charlotte Dearth. She is survived by her devoted husband of 63 years, Harold; children, Annette (Roger) Searfoss of Hilliard, Ohio, H. Daniel Dickerscheid of Fairfield, Ohio and Pamela Dickerscheid of Charleston, W.Va.; grandchildren, Daniel and Andrea Dickerscheid and Trent Searfoss; sister, Margie (James) McMullin; and numerous nieces and nephews. A private memorial is planned. The family asks that donations be made to Phi U Jean D. Dickerscheid Fellowship, P.O. Box 50970, Bowling Green, KY 42102-4270.