Mrs. Jeanne Griffin Gochenour

Barbara Jeanne Griffin Gochenour, 81, died January 26th, 2015 at the Solace Center hospice of Asheville. A native of San Diego, California who had lived as a resident of Asheville for 38 years, Jeanne was the daughter of the late Dr. Robert M. Griffin and Ina Stewart Griffin. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, David Thomas Gochenour II and her sister, Patricia Griffin Phair. Jeanne held a BS in Psychology from UNC-Asheville and a M.Ed. from Western Carolina University. She taught in the Asheville City school system, and worked for the Girl Scouts of America, and other non-profit organizations. She was a proud, generous and enthusiastic mother of five children, raising them while relocating multiple times to a number of states, making close friends in each place. She and her husband refused to move again once they found their home in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. Jeanne was active in her community: working the polls in Buncombe County, volunteering at the North Asheville Library, organizing the Neighborhood Association of North Asheville. She was a member of AAUW Asheville branch since 2001, of the Asheville Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, and of Christ United Methodist Church in Weaverville. Jeanne was an avid fan of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, was quick to discuss world events, and loved her book clubs and bible study group. She is survived by her five children: Dr. D. Thomas Gochenour III and wife Tatyana Fedorovskaya of Moscow, Russia; Susan Gochenour and husband Steven Rosen of Marblehead, Massachusetts; Anne Gochenour and husband Tom Karson of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; Rev. Bob Gochenour and wife Rev. Kathy Gochenour of Stephens City, Virginia; Allan Gochenour and wife Andréa Antero Gochenour of Curitiba, Brazil; her eight grandchildren: Marie, Alex, Amal, Timothy, Sara, Sonya, Nora & Nicolas; and her great-grandson: David Thomas, IV. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM Saturday, February 14th in the chapel of Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue. The Rev. Duane P. Corle of Christ United Methodist Church, Weaverville will preside. Interment will be at Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery alongside her husband, David. In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Jeanne can be made in her name to one of the following organizations: Asheville Symphony Orchestra http://ashevillesymphony.org/support/ , WCQS Western North Carolina Public Radio http://wcqs.org/support2 , or UNC-Asheville https://giving.unca.edu/

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Mrs. Jeanne Griffin Gochenour

May 22, 1933 - January 26, 2015