GENTHE, Janneta (Jane) Ruth

Janneta, or Jane as she was known to friends and family, passed away July 29, 2015, in her home at the edge of the Hill Country in Travis County. She was 71, and is survived by many family members and friends who will miss her big heart, bright laugh, and quick wit.Jane was born October 13, 1943, in Gatesville, Texas, to Patsy Ruth Hale Wallace and Bill Abithel Wallace. She spent her early years in West Texas and New Mexico, but her family was living near Texas City when the historic explosion of the Grandcamp ship occurred in 1947. Jane said that pieces of the ship landed in her yard, and her father took her to see the explosion area. She said that event was one of the major, vivid memories of her youth.

Jane had many different occupations and interests. She was a Registered Nurse (RN). She was an avid history researcher and writer, and served as a Texas State Archives researcher during the 1980s. She wrote history columns for the Hill Country News and for a local community newsletter. In addition, she was a painter and musician, an avid pool player, and an enthusiastic stargazer. She even built a viewing platform in her front yard to watch for falling stars during meteorite showers.

She had a great love for animals, from her own beloved dogs and the wildlife in her own back yard to the elephants in Africa. She supported the local Central Texas ASPCA in Leander, the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for elephants in Africa, among many other charities.

Services for Jane will be held as follows: Wednesday, 8/5, 6pm-8pm: Informal visitation at the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 1200 S. Bagdad Rd., Leander. Thursday, 8/6, 11am: Funeral service at the Round Mountain Baptist Church, 14500 Round Mountain Rd, Leander. Friday, 8/7, 2pm: Funeral service at the Jonesboro Baptist Church, 11420 S. State Highway 36, Jonesboro, TX. Burial will follow at the Jonesboro Cemetery.

If you would like to donate to one of Jane’s charities in lieu of flowers, here are two suggestions:

– The Central Texas ASPCA, 909 S. Bagdad Rd., Leander
http://www.centraltexasspca.org/

– The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

Obituary and guestbook available online at www.wcfish.com