Jane E. Gettman

Dateline: Columbus Grove

Jane E. Gettman, 79, of Columbus Grove, Ohio, passed away on Friday, October 13, 2023, in Powell, Ohio. Jane was the daughter of the late J. Earl and Ruth Belch, nee Miller.  

Jane graduated from Columbus Grove High School and Bowling Green State University.  She started her professional career as an elementary school teacher and later found her passion in telephony.  Jane became director of the Columbus Grove Telephone Company, started by her grandfather Joseph E. Belch.  Under her leadership, the company saw significant modernization and expansion of services.  Following retirement from the company, Jane served as a telecommunications consultant for many years. Jane was a pioneer for women in many regards, serving as one of the first females on the Ohio Telephone Association Board of Directors, United States Telephone Association Board of Directors, The Union Bank Company Board of Directors, Pandora Bank Board of Directors, Columbus Grove Local Schools Board of Education, and Apollo Career Center Board of Education.  Jane was active with the Republican Party and served as an alternate delegate at the 1976 Republican National Convention.  Jane was also involved with the Putnam County Friends of the Library, and she was a Sunday school teacher at the Columbus Grove Christian Church.  

She was preceded in death by father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lloyd and Marguerite Gettman, nee Adrain, brother-in-law John C. Gettman, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ross and Lillian McElroy, nee Gettman. Jane is survived by her husband, Thomas L.  Gettman, whom she married on June 19, 1966.  Jane is also survived by son Matthew T. Gettman and his wife Sara Gettman, nee Gajewski, of Byron, Minnesota, and daughter Amanda M. Gettman of Powell, Ohio; granddaughters Hannah Jane Gettman, Abigail Gettman, and Lucile Gettman; sister Jo Earlene Winner, nee Belch, and her husband Ronald Winner of Paulding, Ohio; sister-in-law Barbara Gettman, nee Manning, Columbus Ohio; and two nephews and two nieces.  

Friends and family may call 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023, and 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Hartman Sons Funeral Home, 10879 State Route 12, Columbus Grove, Ohio.  Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Truro Cemetery, Columbus Grove, Ohio.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jane E. Gettman, please visit our floral store.