Jean enjoys life living in Beaumont-Wilshire with her daughter Wanda and son-in-law David. She and her two cats share an apartment in their home. Her cats follow her every command (unusual for cats) and keep her company.
Jean was born in Renrock, Ohio on May 14, 1915, as the first child of John Murray and Hazel Dye Allison. Since her father was a Congregational minister, the family moved periodically—including Leadville, Colorado and Avery, Wisconsin. Jean graduated high school in Berea, Ohio, then went on to receive a B.A. degree from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio and a Master of Nursing from what is now Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1941, with the war already started in Europe and the South Pacific, Jean and a couple of friends from school joined the Cleveland Hospital Unit of the Army. Thinking they would be sent to a winter in Europe, the recruits had warm clothing in their suitcases when they boarded the modified passenger ship. Instead, they headed southward and approached the Panama Canal. The troop ship then joined a convoy sailing southeast that was required to maintain a zigzag course for protection from attacking enemy ships and planes. The precarious journey culminated 37 days later with their arrival in Melbourne, Australia.
The nurses were stationed at the Royal Melbourne Hospital to treat wounded military personnel brought in from around the South Pacific. Two years later Jean was transferred to New Guinea. There Jean reconnected with Arthur Wojnowski, Provost Marshall of the South Pacific troops, whom she married after the war.
With only a few aches and pains, she still goes to the mall, actively participates in church activities (including playing piano), and joins her daughter in thrift store treasure hunting. She actively gardens and shares the produce grown. A life very well lived indeed!