Jo Ellen Abney, age 79, passed away on Saturday February 25, 2023 at Reid Health. She was born in Richmond, Indiana on May 11, 1943 to Robert Bernard and Rose (Smith) Newton. Jo is a Richmond High School graduate, class of 1961. She was married to her husband Ralph for 34 years before his passing in 2003. In addition to cleaning houses, Jo had worked at MCL Cafeteria, making many friends in her 27 years of employment before it closed in 2018. She will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Tim Abney and Mark Abney; sister Freta Butt; special nephew Rick Thornburg and several other nieces, nephews and friends. Jo is preceded in death by her husband Ralph Abney, parents Robert and Rose, siblings R.B. Newton (Mary Margaret), Jim Newton, Bill Newton, Lavon Dietez and Della Thornburg; and special cousin Sue Kinsey.

Services for Jo will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday March 1, 2023 with a visitation from 10am-12pm at Riggle-Waltermann Mortuary. Pastor Jim Slaven will officiate the service. Burial will be held in Earlham Cemetery, Veteran Field of Honor, alongside her husband Ralph.