Mary Jane Hamblen

Mary Jane Hamblen, 96, affectionately known as “MJH” and “Mrs. H”, was called home to Heaven early Sunday Morning April 24, from her son Keith’s home where she resided following a fall in her home and a brief stay at Lima Convalescent Home.

Mary Jane was born 12/11/1925 in Beloit, OH, the daughter of Hiram and Mae Armitage and sister to Kenneth and Charles Armitage, all deceased.

She earned a B.S. in Music Education from OSU in 1947, as well as a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Bowling Green State University in 1970.

In 1947 she married Captain (Elias) Ray Augusburger, a pilot in the US Air Force and the father of their three children Janis G. Grover, D. Keith (Linda) Hamblen, and Stephen P. (Cindy) Hamblen. Ray died in a tragic accident in 1956 when his plane crashed due to mechanical failure while taking off from Wright Patterson Air Force Base. In 1958, Mary Jane married Frank R. Hamblen, father of David A. (Laurie) Hamblen, John R. (Barbara) Hamblen, and Ruth F. (Roy) Hollenbacher. In addition to her six (6) children, Mary Jane had twenty-two (22) grandchildren and forty-one (41) great-grandchildren.

Mary Jane was a faithful helpmate for her husband Frank from the time he founded Calvary Bible Church, and blessed the church with a heritage of excellent musicians as she taught piano and led the church choir over the years. She was the Guidance Counselor at Columbus Grove High School for several years before she was called to serve in that capacity as well as Music and English teacher at the Lima Christian Academy, a ministry of Calvary Bible Church from 1973-2018. She was beloved by many who sat under her teaching Sunday School, as well. She never forgot her dear friends Jean Williams and Shirley Zumkehr.

In 2017, she was honored by the publishing of an arrangement by Joan J. Pinkston of the hymn, “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.” The dedication at the head of the arrangement reads, “In honor of Mrs. Mary Jane Hamblen’s 47 years of service to the Lima Christian Academy: Pastor’s wife, choir director, counselor, friend, saint.”

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at Calvary Bible Church, Lima, Ohio.  A funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, 2022, with visitation one hour prior.  Pastor Keith Hamblen will officiate.  Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Elida.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lima Christian Academy.

Arrangements handled by Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home.  Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.