Emma Jean (Holcomb) Burkhammer

Emma Jean (Holcomb) Burkhammer, of Coolville, OH, daughter of the late Glenn Holcomb and Bettie (Dunfee) Holcomb, died on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Juniper Village in Pittsburgh, Pa. She was 79. She was born on February 4, 1938 in Porterfield, OH. She attended Belpre High School. In 1953 she married Dorsey Clinton Burkhammer, and together they had 3 children, Deborah Lorentz, Lou Ann Burkhammer (deceased) and Lori Thomas. Known as Jean to her friends and family, she was a member of Bethel Church in Coolville, OH. She enjoyed watching westerns and making quilts. Jean worked as a seamstress at the Middleton Doll Company for 23 years; she dedicated herself to be able to complete any job in the production of collector edition dolls. She also worked at Federal Hocking School District as a substitute cook for 9 years. She served as a 4-H advisor for 17 years with Coolville and Hockingport 4-H clubs.
Jean was a dedicated band mom, always available to be the last parent to leave the Coolville drop off, waiting until every band member was picked up by a parent. She worked closely with the band for almost 20 years, she was known for making homemade hot dog sauce for all the football and basketball games and helping the band by making flag corps and majorette uniforms by hand. Jean is survived by 2 daughters, Deborah (Donald) Lorentz of Jeannette PA and Lori (Michael) Thomas of Dale, TX and 5 grandchildren, Alissa Lorentz, Zachary Lorentz, Brandon (Heather)Thomas, Bryan (Reagan) Thomas and Shane Thomas, and 2 great-grandchildren, Isabelle Thomas and Branson Thomas. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Dorsey Burkhammer and her daughter Lou Ann Burkhammer.
The service will be 10 am Tuesday at White Schwarzel Funeral Home inCoolville. Visitation will be from 5 – 8 pm on Monday, May 1st. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or Alzheimer’s Association in her memory.