Jean Marie (Wadsworth) Spear

Mrs. Jean Spear was born on January 24, 1925 to James Wadsworth Sr. and Katherine Franklin in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was their second child. Jean attended Indianapolis Public School #42 and graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in 1943. She was a lifelong supporter and booster of the Tigers. Jean, family and friends traveled around the entire State of Indiana supporting the basketball team.

Jean was very athletic throughout her life. She enjoyed playing sports with the neighborhood kids and often forced her younger sister, Rita, to play if they needed another player. Sports is how she met the love of her life, Roscoe Conklin Spear “Rocky” in Northwestern Park. His friends introduced him to the striking redhead and the rest is history. They were united Holy Matrimony on November 24, 1951 at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church. They had a love affair that lasted nearly 55 years. They had three children, Garry Louis (deceased as an infant), Phyllis Jean and Cathy Lynn.

Jean loved tennis and taught her children, grandchildren and even her great-grandchildren how to play.  Throughout her life, sports continued to be a source of enjoyment for Jean. She and her sister were season ticket holders for the Pacers and the Colts. She and Rita would walk the neighborhood and collect cans daily in order to pay for the tickets. After Rita passed, Jean continued to walk daily and collect cans. She was affectionately known in the neighborhood as, “the Can Lady,” and neighbors would save cans especially for her.

Jean worked most of her life. A lifelong favorite saying was, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” She carried newspapers as a child and young adult. She retired from RCA after 30 plus years. Jean firmly instilled a strong work ethic in not only her children, but nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their friends.

Jean was known to be a very caring person. She did not always verbalize it, but her actions left little doubt about how much she cared for her friends and family members; Jean was always there, no matter what. She became primary guardian of Rita prior to her entering high school and they never separated. Jean took in her father-in-law, father and mother when they were ill and cared for Rita and Rocky throughout their illnesses, and never complained.

Jean’s health deteriorated over the last 10 or so years, but she never gave up. She fought a good fight and kept a strong spirit, but mainly, she kept her faith until the Lord called her home on Thursday, October 10, 2019 at Riverview Hospital. She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, James Jr. and Rita Wadsworth; husband, Rock; son, Garry; grandson, Gregory Bonds Jr.; and great-grandson, Jaylen Bonds.

She leaves to cherish her memory to her daughters, Phyllis Bonds (Gregory) and Cathy Shears (Michael); grandchildren: Andrea Talleyrand (Wesly), Aaron  Bonds (Rashida) and Patrice  Brown (Jarod); great-grandchildren: Britany, Lauryn and Gregory Ward, Karunda and Nevaeh Talleyrand, Briane Lee and Aaralyn Bonds; niece, Pamela Buchanan; nephews, James III and Paul Wadsworth; great-nieces, Katherine (Adam), Rita Maxey (Aaron); great-nephew, Matthew Mitchell (Jarrett); as well as a host of family members and friends.