Wilma “Jean” Gorham of Greencastle, passed away Friday, September 13th at Mill Pond Health Campus. Jean was born in Putnam County on September 18th, 1918, the only child of Walter Forest Barnett and Bessie Alice (Carmichael) Barnett. Jean graduated from Russellville High School on April 21st in 1927 and married Dorris (Tommy) Gorham on January 17th, 1942. She is proceeded in death by her parents; her husband of 27 years; daughter, Karen Cooper; son-in-law, Lyle Cooper; grandson John Martin and childhood friend Maxine Calendar. Mrs. Gorham was a homemaker for many years while also providing in home care for her Mother and Great Aunt, Alta Bales. Starting in 1963, Jean volunteered part-time as a teacher’s aide to the first group of special needs children that were introduced into the Greencastle school system at Miller School. She became a full-time teacher in 1970 after the passing of her husband. At this time no teaching Degree was needed if you had right skills, patience and love. She went onto become the first female Work Shop Director for Putnam County Comprehensive Services and retired in 1984.
After a brief retirement, Jean announced to her family that she needed something to do “full-time”. She then began her second career as a House Director. Starting at the Delta Gamma Sorority house at Millikin University, moving onto the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at Purdue University and finally returned home to DePauw University where she worked for Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta and Kappa Alpha Theta from which she retired once again in 2010.
Jean joined the Beta Sigma Phi, Beta Eta Chapter in 1965. She was a Lifetime Member who received all eligible degrees with the last one being the Dimond Circle which is the highest degree available in the organization. Throughout the years she held many offices, the last one being President in 2004. awarded. Jean was awarded the Order of the Rose and Woman of the Year several times over the years.
Her love for basketball was known by all those who knew her. Many phone calls have been abruptly answered over the years with “I’m watching a ball game, call me back”. She had her favorite teams and players over the years, but none could compare with Indiana’s Bobby Knight.

She is survived by her 4 daughters, Kathy Winslow (Steve), Kay Allgire (Tom), Kristy Prados (Steve) and Kandy Planco (Ray Roberts); 11 grandchildren, Shelly Fletcher (Ed), Stevie Winslow (Nicki), Yvonne Miller (Dan), Matt Winslow (Kelly), Margee Raplee (Scott), Tom Cooper (Laura), Tim Cooper (Janet), Nancy Jenkins (Gary), Stacey O’Neal, Shane O’Neal and Felicia Yoakam (Aaron); 23 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life and Mass will be held at 11am on November 30th at St Paul the Apostle Church in Greencastle with Father John Holloway officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her honor to the St Paul’s building fund. Those attending the Mass are asked to bring your favorite photo of Jean to share with the family and to wear her favorite color, blue. The family would like to thank Bousley Funeral Home for their assists in preplanning services.