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Mary Jane (Janie) (Griffith) Pound

Posted 2016-02-13 by Judy Wight Branson
The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona
Friday, February 12, 2016, page 8a

Mary Jane "Janie" Pound passed away peacefully on Jan. 4, 2016 at her home in Prescott, Arizona, less than a month after her 90th birthday. She was born Mary Jane Griffith on Dec. 9, 1925 in Sullivan, Indiana, the daughter of Milton and Bertha Griffith and the younger sister of her brother Wayne.

She grew up in Sullivan County, and met her future husband Joe Thomas Pound on the school bus. He threw a spit wad and she hit him with a book. She graduated from Sullivan High School in 1944.

Although they never dated in high school, Mary Jane and Joe were good friends and regular correspondents while he was overseas during World War II. Joe was an Army Air Corps pilot and Mary Jane served with the Veterans Administration in Dayton, Ohio. They married soon after the end of the war. Mary Jane worked while Joe graduated from Indiana University. Their life together was interrupted when Joe was called back to service for the Korean War, but they then settled in Sullivan, where they remained until 1968. During this time, Mary Jane graduated from Indiana State University with an English major.

Always a military reservist, Joe was called back to active Air Force service during the Vietnam war, and Mary

Jane went with him and moved away from Sullivan for the last time in 1968. Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado were important stops on her onward journey. Along the way, Mary Jane worked for The Hecht Company department store and USAA insurance, where she made many friends. After Joe passed away in 1984 Mary Jane moved in 1985 to Prescott, Arizona, where she was a hospice volunteer and lived for the rest of her life. Both Mary Jane and Joe had developed a great affinity for the West, and had planned to retire there. After a lengthy road tour of several cities, they had selected Prescott as their destination. When Joe passed away too soon, Mary Jane carried on with their plan. She loved Prescott and the view of Granite Mountain from her easy chair; it was her wish to stay there to the end.

Mary Jane loved intelligent conversation, laughter, dancing and a good martini. She was an admirer of Dorothy Parker and was, herself, a wit and the author of many a well-turned phrase. She was a loving wife, a wonderful mother and "the best mother-in-law ever." Always a free and independent spirit, she met her end on her own terms with calm resolution.

She is survived by son Eric (and Sharon); and daughter Laura Windham (and Tony); as well as five grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. Another son, Jeffrey, preceded her in death.

Services will be private.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Real Dream

When this dream is finished
Shall I dream again?
Or shall I truly wake,
And never know I dreamed?

Written by Mary Jane Pound

Information provided by survivors.




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