Jeanne Dorothy (Rudel) Mears died on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Ohio Living Dorothy Love. She was 101 years of age. Jeanne was born on February 6, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio, the second and youngest child of Walter W. Rudel and Mathilde Kashubeck. Her parents and brother Walter preceded her in death.

After graduating from high school, Mears attended Ohio University and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism. Mears and her husband, Donald Mears, were neighbors in Cleveland. When her brother and Don left for the Pacific Theatre in World War II, she began writing letters to Don at the encouragement of both of their mothers. When he returned home in 1946, they began dating, and were married in 1950.

The Mears’s first lived in Alliance for two years, then Warren for 10, Proctorville for 3, and then Bellefontaine for three decades. Jeanne followed Don in his assignments as an executive with Boy Scouts of America.

Because of their frequent moves, Jeanne worked a number of non-journalistic careers, including home party sales, Welcome Wagon, secretarial, and for a brief period of time for the Bellefontaine Examiner.

In 1969, Don went to work for the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services, and Jeanne went to work at Linn’s Stamp News. Jeanne retired as Managing Editor of the weekly publication in 1987, and Don retired that same year. Having fallen in love with Sidney, they moved from Bellefontaine to Dorothy Love in November, 1996. Don unfortunately died in March 1999.

While at Dorothy Love, Jeanne became the editor of Love Notes, the Dorothy Love newsletter. She began her duties with the February 1998 issue and continued editing the monthly publication for the next twenty years.

Jeanne was a founding member of the Bellefontaine Chapter of the American Association of University Women, a member of King’s Daughters, was the resident representative to Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services for Dorothy Love, and helped found the annual Dorothy Love Garage Sale. Jeanne and Don were passionate model railroaders, building an elaborate N-gauge layout. She was the civil engineer and Don was the electrical engineer.

Jeanne was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. She will be laid to rest next to Don at Highland Cemetery, West Liberty following a private, graveside service. Funeral services were provided by Salm – McGill & Tangeman Funeral Home. At Jeanne’s request, there will be no calling hours. Memorial contributions can be made to Ohio Living Dorothy Love, St. John’s Lutheran Church, or a charity of the donors choosing.