Jean E. Quash , 97, of Glen Allen, VA, departed this life Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

Born on January 10, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Jesse and Arminta Evans. Jean was the oldest of the three siblings (Jesse, and Odessa). Her parents instilled in her the values of faith, family, and education from an early age setting the foundation for her entire life. She graduated from Armstrong High School in 1943 and later attended Virginia Union University becoming a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and earning a degree in French in 1948.

Upon graduation from college, she served as an elementary school teacher in King Queen County and Surry County school districts from 1948 to 1951. During that time, she met 2LT James M. Quash, Sr., or "Hon" as she affectionately called him, who was also serving as a school teacher in Surry County.  They were married on 14 June 1951, and as a military family they lived in multiple locations to include Fort Sill, OK, Fort Drum, NY and Fort Hood, TX before settling back home in Doswell, VA. There, she continued her profession as a teacher serving at John M. Gandy (1955-1966), Doswell Elementary (1966-1985), and Beaverdam Elementary (1985-1988) schools until her retirement on June 30, 1988.

At an early age she developed a passion for music and playing the piano became her forte, often dreaming of becoming a concert pianist. Her father said he gave her lessons because as a little girl she was always pretending to play the piano before ever seeing one. At the age of nine she started taking lessons. She practiced faithfully and began playing in the church, tutoring many students, for 25 cents a lesson, from the Providence Park neighborhood. She even taught history and math by day to some of her students in Hanover County and then held piano lessons after school.

Her other outside interests included baking, canning fruits and vegetables, reading, and sewing. She would even make her own sewing patterns using old newspapers. One of the most difficult items she ever sewed was a wool coat that was heavier than her youngest great-grandchild. She loved to travel, going cross-country twice, sailing the seas, and visiting places like Panama and South Africa. She documented everything and to this day there are numerous journals highlighting her past-times, and vacations with family and friends.

One thing that was always evident to all that knew her was how much she loved the Lord. Growing up in the Providence Park neighborhood, she always lived less than two blocks from the church and continued to serve as the pianist for over 60 years at Providence Park Baptist Church. She always provided love, guidance, and direction to anyone in need and served as one of the matriarchs in the Quash and Evans families.

Jean leaves to cherish her memory her two adult children, James M. Quash Jr., and Arminta Nishea Quash; two grandchildren, Dr. Tiffany M. Quash (Tasha), and LTC Jason Quash (Jill); four great-grandchildren, Joel, Gabriel, Nathan and Ramia; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A visitation will be held at H.W. Dabney Funeral Home, 518 N. Washington Hwy, Ashland, VA 23005, on Friday, August 2, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A viewing will be held at Providence Park Baptist Church, 468 East Ladies Mile Road, Richmond, VA, 23222, on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 10:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 10:30 AM. Click here to view a live streaming of the funeral service. The Reverend Jerome Ross will officiate the service. The interment will follow at Signal Hill Memorial Park, 12360 Hanover Courthouse Road (Route 301), Hanover, VA, 23069.