Jean Buffinton

Jean Buffinton, age 93, passed away on February 1, 2021. She resided at Summerhill Assisted Living in Peterborough, NH the last 2 years. She was born in Columbus Ohio and later lived in New Jersey, Connecticut, Shrewsbury MA, Rindge, NH, and Jensen Beach, FL.

Jean was her high school valedictorian at Central High School in Columbus and attended Ohio State University until her marriage in 1947. She was a homemaker and mother who was active in her church as President of the Women’s Fellowship, as a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts, and as a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed boating and water skiing with her family as well as taking private pilot flying lessons. She was a soccer mom before soccer moms were a “thing” and attended countless marching band performances, crew races, track and cross-country races and soccer games. She enjoyed square dancing with her husband Lester, aka “Buff”. She wrote prose and poetry as an avid member of her writer’s club in Florida. She cared for Buff, and for her later-in-life partner Larry Coleman in their final years. She and Larry were devoted to their dog Scampi. She and Larry dined out frequently and were regulars at local restaurants throughout the Rindge and Jensen Beach areas. She once wrote that “a loving family and good friends comprise my idea of wealth”. She was known by all who had the pleasure of meeting her for her kindness and generosity.

She was pre-deceased by her husband of almost 57 years Lester Buffinton in 2004 and by her partner Larry Coleman in 2020. Her dear sister Anne Williams of Columbus, Ohio passed in 2016.

She is survived by her sons Craig and Keith and his wife Christine, by her twin granddaughters Julia and Elise, by her brother-in-law Ed Williams, and by her nieces Susan Phelps and Patricia Hinson. She is also survived by Larry Coleman’s son Bill, who was like a third son to her, and his wife Joan, who both contributed greatly to her joy and wellbeing in her later years.

As Jean put it “donations may be made to your favorite charity.” For suggestions, Jean loved animals, she was afflicted late in life by breast cancer and Lewy Body Dementia, and she received excellent care at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA. Jean’s family wishes to sincerely thank the staff at Summerhill Assisted Living, Friendly Folks home care service and Homewatch CareGivers, who provided excellent and compassionate care for Jean and Larry.

There will be no services at this time. Burial will be in Prairie View Cemetery, Whistler, Ohio.