Tributes

Janet Margaret Niven Ewing October 17, 1912 - August 14, 2016 Jan Niven Ewing’s life began to shine October, 17, 1912 in Rochester, New York, where she lived with her older brother William Hamilton and her wonderful parents, William D. and Lillian K. Hamilton Niven. She graduated from high school and then attended Mount Ida College near Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied journalism. Jan returned home where she worked at the Rochester Telephone Corporation as the private secretary to the Vice President. At the age of 27 she left Rochester after marrying Jacob Ralph Ewing and moved to Macon, Georgia. They began their life together in the girls’ dormitory at the Wesleyan Conservatory as house parents. Ralph was the music director at the college. After spending a short time in Denton, Texas, they moved to San Antonio in 1945. She moved in 2011 to McKinney, Texas at 99 years of age. In July of 2015, she moved in with her oldest daughter and husband in Palo Alto, CA. Jan’s life was always centered around God and she devoted it sharing His love with others. She loved children, saw the best in people, was the first to forgive, and enjoyed the present time to its fullest. When they moved to Hollywood Park in 1969, they joined San Pedro Presbyterian church. They were shown such great love by so many wonderful people connected to that church -- something she cherished daily. “I am so blessed to be part of this wonderful congregation.” Early on she was an active choir member, devoted member of the Women of the Church and loved attending Brown Bag Bible Study every Wednesday at church sharing God’s word with her friends and praying together. She participated in the monthly V.I.P. dinners and cherished her Sunday Lunch Bunch friends. She was a positive influence on those whose lives she touched and was an inspiration to many. In 1947, she joined PEO Chapter X where she enjoyed many heartwarming memories with so many loving sisters for 69 years. She served as president in 1986 and had been active in her chapter until she moved to McKinney five years ago. A loving and supportive mother in her four children’s lives, she was a Den Mother, served as president of all their schools PTAs: Woodlawn Hills Elementary, Longfellow Jr., and Jefferson High, and of course baked her delicious oatmeal cookies for many events. Other activities included leading Bible Studies, horseback riding (when she was younger), playing the piano, singing, taking daily walks, writing, reading, lending an ear when others needed comforting, and of course praying. Proud of her Scottish heritage, she traveled to Scotland twice to visit her ancestral home and to New Zealand to visit her relatives. Her surviving family, who loved her dearly, includes her four children and their spouses: W .David Ewing (Kay), Janet Ainsley Hibbitts (Frank), Carol Ewing Lutter (Charles, Jr.) and John N. Ewing (Judy); her ten grandchildren: Brian Whitman, James Whitman, Christ Whitman Jacobs (Robert), Jill Ewing Fortenbaugh (Peter), Karen Ewing, Charles Lutter III (Astrid), Scott Lutter, Lindsay Ewing Class (Jeff), Courtney Ewing and Austin Ewing, and her seven great grandchildren: Carla Whitman, Cameron Fortenbaugh, Seth Whitman, Alex and Elyse Jacobs, and Nate and Jovie Class. A Celebration of her life will be held in San Antonio at San Pedro Presbyterian Church at 2:30 pm November 19, 2016. The private family service will be at Mission Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of the San Pedro Presbyterian Church, 14900 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78232, or the Presbyterian Children’s Home, 156 P R 443, Itasca, TX 76055.