Obituary of Elizabeth Jean McDevitt

Elizabeth Jean McDevitt died on March 5, 2017 at Rydal Park in Jenkintown. Jean was born in Philadelphia on March 29, 1930, the only child of Frank R. and Elizabeth K. Purnell. She grew up in Mt. Airy and graduated from Germantown High School in 1948. Jean graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1952 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She married E. Ralph McDevitt, Jr., in December 1952. After Ralph served for two years as a U.S. Navy dentist, they returned to the Philadelphia area and settled in Roslyn. With their five children, they moved to Jericho Road in Abington in 1963. Jean and Ralph moved to Rydal Park in 2004. Jean was known for her love of people and her extraordinary commitment to service. At Germantown Hospital, she was a weekly volunteer in the emergency room for more than forty years. As a member of the hospital's Women's Board, she provided seventeen years of organizational leadership to the American Gold Cup, an Olympic-caliber horse jumping event, and raised more than $1.4 million for the hospital. She also served on the hospital's Board of Managers. At Abington Presbyterian Church, she began serving in 1958 as a "choir mother," and soon became the behind-the-scenes organizer of all the church choirs. This role gave her the opportunity to befriend and mentor generations of children and their parents as well as choir directors and ministers. Her many other jobs within the church expressed her strong Christian faith and her heartfelt love of people. Her last gift of service to the church was on Christmas Eve 2016. She received great joy and meaning through service and through the countless relationships she cultivated in every arena of her very active life. Jean was everyone's friend, and every friend was special to her. Jean is survived by four children and their families: Jody (Dan Krebill) of Bozeman, Mont., Robin (Tim) Morgenthaler of Rochester, Minn., Chris (Paula) of West Caln, Pa, and Ralph (Tink) of Jenkintown, Pa; and by 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband in 2010 and by her son Doug. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Abington Presbyterian Church, followed by a reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Abington Presbyterian Church Chapel Choir Mission Trip Fund, 1082 Old York Rd., Abington, PA 19001.