Anita Jean Short

Short

Anita Jean Short, 83, of Vienna, passed away peacefully on Wednesday. April 8, 2026, at Wyngate Senior Assisted Living of Parkersburg. Her daughter was by her side following several years of Jean’s declining health.

Born August 5, 1942, in Gallipolis, Ohio, Jean was the daughter of the late Lt. Col. Loren Frederick and Doris Campbell Stone. As part of a military family, Jean and her sisters, Sherry and Sandy, spent several years in Germany, where Jean graduated from Heidelberg High School. Upon the family’s return to the states for her father’s assignment at The Ohio State University, Jean enrolled at OSU. She earned a B.S. in Human Ecology and was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority.

Jean began her professional career at F&R Lazarus, where she served as an assistant buyer and area manager for ten years until the birth of her daughter, Karen Elizabeth. After moving to West Virginia, she later joined the office staff of the O. Ames Company. Deeply rooted in her faith, Jean was a charter member of New Hope Baptist Church.

She is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Gary Short; her daughter, Karen Martinez of Hurricane, WV; and her “pride and joy,” grandson, Aidan Cole Martinez of Huntington, WV. She also leaves behind her sister, Sandra VanBrimmer (Rick) of Dublin, OH; cousin, Jackie Thompson of Colorado; sister-in-law, Carol Williams of Proctorville, OH; and a host of nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 12:00PM on Thursday, April 16th, at New Hope Baptist Church (1777 Rosemar Road, Parkersburg) with Pastor Troy Nesselrode officiating. The family will receive friends during a visitation one hour prior to the service. Casual attire is requested.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Alzheimer’s Association at https://events.alz.org/fundraisers/karenmartinez/in-memory-of-jean-short

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mid-Ohio Valley Cremation Society.