Jean Futer's Obituary
Jean Mildred (Wells) Futer, 87, of Bridgeton, went to be with the Lord on Monday,
February 19, 2024 at Inspira Medical Center of Vineland after a brief illness. Jean was the daughter of the late William H. and Marion (Godfrey) Wells, who were the former owners of Cumberland Nurseries in Millville. Jean and her parents were life-long residents of Millville.
Jean attended Millville schools and graduated from Millville High School in 1954. She graduated with her life-time friend, Joan Adams; they were friends for 80 years. Jean was formerly married to Robert C. Futer who was a well-known music teacher and choir director. During the early years of her marriage, Robert was drafted into the United States Army and they lived in Würzburg, Germany for two years where he was stationed. After service life, music was a big part of their lives and Jean attended many churches, concerts, and musical events with Bob. She sang in church choirs under his direction and went to seminars and participated in a handbell workshop. She also played in a handbell choir at Trinity United Methodist Church in Millville. A highlight of their lives was going to Romania where she and her husband participated in a friendship tour where Bob sang in a musical group and performed concerts. While on that trip, they were also able to take a tour of the real Dracula’s Castle, climbing many steps to get there. Summers were spent in Florida taking the family to visit Bob’s mother, spending time on the beach, taking a tour of Cape Canaveral, and going on an air boat ride in the Florida Everglades.
Embroidery was a hobby she enjoyed in her younger days and later she taught her daughter to sew and make homemade clothing and dresses. She also was very active in church activities and played piano for Sunday School and hymn sings. There was always a family garden and Jean would can vegetables that grew and she also made homemade applesauce. Bowling was a big part of Jean’s life and she bowled on leagues for many years, even while pregnant with her daughter, Kathryn. Her son, Bill, did blacksmithing as a hobby for many years and also flamework glass art and she loved watching his working and receiving the little trinkets and projects he would give her. She would go to craft fairs where he would demonstrate his arts. Jean and her sister, Doris, would call each other every night at 7:00 pm just to check in on each other; this went on for many years.
Jean held secretarial positions at Hunt Foods, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and the Bible Book Store, all in Bridgeton, back in the day. Later in life for a brief time she worked through a temp agency for Tennaco Packaging in Vineland doing office work. Church was a big part of Jean’s life and she also filled the position of church secretary at the First Baptist Church in Bridgeton and at Trinity United Methodist Church in Millville.
During her later years, she enjoyed reading and watching the old shows on MeTV such as Gunsmoke, The Waltons, and The Rifleman. She loved watching the birds at her birdfeeder, nature of all kinds, her beautiful flowers and azaleas in her yard, getting greeting cards in the mail, attending Bible Study, attending music concerts where her daughter and son-in-law performed, and having the church ladies come to visit her. She was especially close to her cat, Precious.
She was predeceased by her former husband, Robert C. Futer, her parents, William and Marion, a brother William H. Wells II, who died at three months old, and her loving sister, Doris, to whom she was very close.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathryn Ackley (Ken), and her son, William Futer.
Family and friends are invited to attend funeral services at 11AM on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 65 Hitchner Avenue, Bridgeton, NJ 08302. Viewing will be at
10:00 am and the service at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Overlook Cemetery in Bridgeton.
In memorial of Jean, monetary gifts may be sent to New Hope Presbyterian Church, 65 Hitchner Avenue, Bridgeton, NJ 08302 or the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation, 10701 Parkridge Blvd., Suite 170, Reston, VA 20191, or through their website at https://sjogrens.org
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