Janet (Jan) Lee Waller, formerly of Glen Mills-Thornton, Pa.

Janet (Jan) Lee Waller, Age 80, of Belfair Plantation in Bluffton, SC went to be home with her Savior on September 22, 2017. She was surrounded by her loving husband family members. Jan was born in Milford, DE, hospital on June 22, 1937, daughter of the late Louise Ralph Keller and Harold Heckman Keller.

Jan’s early years were spent in Laurel, DE. Jan graduated from Laurel High School 1955 as Salutatorian of her class where she was interested in sports, music and current government events. She then attended the University of Delaware where she graduated with honors in English and education in 1959. While there, she was editor of the Yearbook, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and active in student government affairs. After graduation, she married a consulting engineer, Frank S. Waller, also a University of Delaware graduate, and they moved to the Baltimore, MD area. While there, she taught 10th and 12th grade language arts at Glen Burnie High School, where she enjoyed her interaction with her students on a personal as well as educational level.

In 1962, she moved to the Glen Mills-Thornton, Pennsylvania areas where she lived for 30 years. While raising their three active children there, she took leadership roles in her children’s various school activities and ultimately was elected to the West Chester Area School Board, serving for 10 years. During those 10 years, she served on all the Board’s standing committees, but her primary interest was in curricular matters. She also was appointed to the Chester County Intermediate Unit Board which oversaw the Education Programs for Special Needs Children in the county. During most of her time in Pennsylvania, she was a member of the Bethlehem United Methodist Church, in Thornton, PA, where she helped organize church outreach programs and served in several administrative capacities. She attended in-depth Bible studies which led to her strong foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.

In 1992 her husband became Chairman of his company, a large international engineering company headquartered in Denver, and Jan and Frank moved to The Preserve in Greenwood Village, CO. While in Colorado, she served on various community committees and also developed an interest in landscaping. Jan’s gardens became much admired by members of the community. After her husband’s retirement in 1999,they decided to search for a home in the Hilton Head, SC area where they had vacationed for years. They settled in Belfair Golf Plantation where Jan immediately became active in golf and bridge. They attended the Lowcountry Presbyterian Church where she served as liturgist for some of the early morning services. Over the years, Jan enjoyed following the activities and interests of her children and grandchildren and was very proud of their many accomplishments. She was also always active in sports. She was an avid tennis player, playing competitively for 25 years on several USTA Teams in both Delaware and Chester Counties, PA, until her aching knees restricted her ability to run. She played golf most of her adult life, and in recent years at Belfair she was chairperson for numerous golf tournaments. She developed a love for bridge, competing in various ACBL tournaments, and recently started playing mah jongg. She enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the US and abroad with her husband. All her life she was a social leader, as she loved to plan and organize charitable and social activities for each community in which she lived, jokingly earning her the “Pearl Mesta” title from some of her friends. She was also known for clearly stating her position on any topic, even when it was not the most popular position, and defending her position with “gusto.”

She is survived by her beloved husband of 58 years, Frank Sirman Waller; sons Bradley Harold Waller of Philadelphia, PA and Gregory Ralph Waller and his wife, Dr. Wynne Pomeroy Waller of Downingtown, PA; daughter Pamela Waller Bonney and husband, Dr. W. Kent Bonney of Burlington, NC; sister Jean Smith and brotherin-law Jerry Smith of Seaford, DE, and sister Mary Jane Weldin of Newark, DE; granddaughters Lauren Bonney, Kaitlin Bonney, Megan Waller, Alison Waller and Sarah Waller; and grandson Nathaniel Bonney and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, October 10th at Lowcountry Presbyterian Church in Bluffton, SC at 10:00 am. The family will be present to greet friends starting at 9:00 am. Immediately after the Memorial Service, everyone is invited to come to the Waller’s home at 6 Lexington Drive in Belfair and celebrate the life of this outstanding lady, wife and mother.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Hospice of the Lowcountry, P. O. Box 3827, Bluffton, SC 29910; Lowcountry Presbyterian Church, 10 Simmonsville Road, Bluffton, SC 29910, ATTN: Missions-Family Promise; or Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 4 Westtown Road, Thornton, PA 19373, ATTN: Good Works.