John John Alvis Fretwell and his young wife, Lillian, from Danville, Virginia, excitedly welcomed their first born child, a lovely daughter, on May 15, 1920. They named her Jean Frances. She was soon to be joined by two brothers, Jack and Bill. Jean%u2019s father passed away when she was only 14. Her brother, Bill, went down with the USS Rowan when it was torpedoed in the Mediterranean Sea during WWII. Jean%u2019s mother died in 1969. And Jack in 1984. And now Jean, the last of her immediate family, died at the age of 94 on Monday, December 22, 2014 at Snyder%u2019s Nursing Home in Salem, VA. By all that matters, her life was well-lived. She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1938 and held jobs during the war with the Graybar Company and Norfolk and Western Railroad. And she was well known for %u201Ccutting the rug%u201D at the Coffee Pot on weekends. Elton Layman Rardin, also of Roanoke, came into her life during the war years. They fell in love and were married while he was stationed at the Camp McCall, NC. Army post. After the war Jean and Elton moved to Salem, VA and were blessed with four children, David, Richard, Debbie and Roger. Elton, who worked for the Norfolk and Western, also opened Vacation Trailer Sales and ran it until his death in 1976 at the age of 53, after which Jean continued to run it until 1979. Jean and Elton were active in Salem Baptist Church faithfully serving in various volunteer positions as children%u2019s Sunday school teachers, vacation bible school, leaders in Cub and Boy Scouts, and as a deacon/wife team. All four children were baptized there. In 1983 Jean was remarried to Redmond T. Adams, Jr, also of Roanoke, VA. But Redmond passed away in 2006. Jean leaves behind all four children to cherish her memory: David W. Rardin (Brenda) of Easton, MD; Richard L. Rardin (Janice) of Sandy Hook, CT; Deborah J. Rardin of Roanoke, VA; and Roger E. Rardin (Deborah) of Salem, VA. How thankful we are that Jean Frances was our mother. She hugged us, scolded us, dressed us, fed us, encouraged us and even taught us to pray. Known as GaGa by her seven grandchildren, Jean loved each one: Kimberly R. Furr (Mark) of Elkridge, MD; Scott D. Rardin (Susan) of Easton, MD; Jessica R. Rardin of Blacksburg, VA; Eric J. Rardin of Sandy Hook, CT; Michael R. Stevenson of Radford, VA; Kurt R. Rardin (Meghan) of Gainesville, GA; John H. Rardin of Salem, VA. She also leaves behind seven great grandchildren: Brian, Courtney and Ashley Furr of Elkridge, MD; Tyler, J.J., and Kendal Rardin of Easton, MD; and Douglas K. and Audrey L. Rardin of Gainesville, GA.Hers was a life well-lived as measured by all that matters. Jean was and remains today an outstanding example of self-giving love. Coming of age during the Great Depression, living with shortages and rationing during the War, seeing many high school friends enlist after Pearl Harbor and never return, like many of the Greatest Generation Jean%u2019s greatest joy was in being a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She and Elton raised their four children with love and devotion, and dedicated their lives to the well-being of their ever expanding family. Also like many of her generation, Jean also found time for civic involvement as either a member or volunteer in the Friendship Garden Club, Thursday Morning Music Club, at Lewis Gale Hospital, Roanoke Womens' Club, as Chaperon for the Miss Virginia Pageant, at the Art Museum of Western Va., the Salem Museum and the Salem Senior Center. As a member of numerous Jefferson High School reunion committees she attended many Jefferson High reunions. And if that were not enough, she found time for playing bridge, golfing, dancing and traveling internationally. Together we celebrate the life of our mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Little Jean Frances grew into a beautiful young woman who loved to run and laugh and dance and care unselfishly for others. Rarely sick but tending to the sick, invariably happy and upbeat, but taking time for the moody and irritable, a mother to cats, dogs, turtles, pigeons, hamsters, white mice, canaries, a pony and even a king snake, she loved unselfishly, always giving, always helping, always fulfilling her calling as a mother, wife and neighbor. We will surely miss her but take great comfort in knowing that this day she is in paradise greeted first by her Lord Jesus and then by her many friends and relatives who have also died in Christ.Surely we would be remiss if we didn%u2019t thank Keith Denson and the wonderfully caring staff at Snyder Nursing Home for making the last few years so special and personable. They became family to us all.Funeral services will be held at 10AM this morning, Wednesday, December 24, 2014 at the Chapel of John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home, Salem. The family will receive friends beginning at 9AM. Burial will follow at Evergreen Burial Park. Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to Snyder%u2019s Nursing Home, 11 North Broad St. Salem, VA 24153. An online guest book is available for family and friends by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.