Jackie Echelbarger, 59, passed away Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010 at home following a two and a half year battle with cancer.

Born Jan. 22,1951 in Scottsburg, she was the daughter of John H. “Jack” and Ledell (Schumate) McConnel.

Jackie was a school teacher in Indiana for 30 years. She graduated from Jennings County High School in 1969 and held both Bachelors and Masters degrees from Indiana University.

She was a gifted athelete and an Indiana University letter winner as a starting pitcher for IU’s first women’s softball team in the early 1970s. She played softball in Indiana for many years including long stints with the State Farm Insurance team of North Vernon and the Ponderosa Playmakers of Columbus.

Jackie was a coach’s wife and an avid basketball fan who never missed a basketball game that was either coached by her husband Marty or played by her sons. She also enjoyed attending the Indianapolis 500 with family and friends.                

Survivors include her husband, Martin “Marty” Echelbarger; three sons, Eric (Ericka) Echelbarger of O’Fallon, Ill., John (Ashley) Echelbarger of Princeton, Jeff Echelbarger of Santa Claus; her parents Jack and Ledell McConnell of Scipio; a brother, Greg (Cheryl) McConnell of Howell, Mich.; one sister, Mrs. Joe (Robin) Puterbaugh of Carmel; and one grandson, Ethan Echelbarger of O’Fallon, Ill.    

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. (eastern) Wednesday, Oct. 20 at the Scipio Presbyterian Church in Scipio. Burial will be in the Scipio Cemetery.