Jean C. Hooten, age 82, a resident of Wheaton for 45 years, died at home on Thursday, July 14. She was born on February 22, 1923 in Brooklyn, NY to Charles and Marion Chamberlin.

She volunteered as a Gray Lady with the Red Cross and at a mission in lower Manhattan during the 1940's. She was trained at the Brooklyn Acadamy of Music and performed with chorales and church choirs. Jean married Dwight Hooten on June 25, 1949. In 1960 she and her husband and their three daughters moved to Wheaton. They added to their family through the adoption of three Korean children.

Her delight was in the Lord. She found joy in daily living Matthew 25:40
"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

She was a member of the Wheaton History Club, served as an Election Judge, volunteered for Hospice of Du Page for over 18 years. At College Church in Wheaton she served as a deaconess and founded and created the College Church Special Education Program. She also taught Sunday School for over 40 years.

Jean authored many articles. She developed and published the first Christian curriculum for Special Education. She served as writer and editor for "Church Around the World" for Tyndale House Publishers where she also served on the Review and Editorial Committee for the "Christian Reader". She also compiled a book for Senior Citizens published by Shaw Publishers.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Dwight Hooten, 6 children, Marion (Bob) Myczek of AZ, Ellen (Frank) Scognamillo of AZ, Dorothy (Dan) Voss of Wheaton, David (Jennifer) Hooten of Wheaton, Kenneth (Janet) Hooten of Hinsdale, and Mae Lynn (Rich) Johnson of Wheaton, 12 grandchildren, John, Jennie-Jean; David; Alicia, Brandon; Austen, Jacob; Dwight Graham, Libby, Mara; Jessica and Danielle, and 4 great-grandchildren, Chloe, Paige, Kade and Casey.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 17 from 1 until 7 p.m. at the Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St. in Wheaton and on Monday from 10 to 11 a.m. at College Church in Wheaton, Seminary and Washington St. where the funeral service will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. with Rev. Wilbur Ellsworth officiating. Interment will follow at Wheaton Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Holt Adoption Agency, Hospice of DuPage, College Church in Wheaton Special Education.

Information and on-line guest book is available at hultgrenfh.com or call 630-668-0027.