Joanne Virginia Martin, of Springettsbury Township, York, died at 5:57 AM Friday August 9, 2024, at York North Nursing and Rehabilitation. Born in York on March 18, 1929, she was the daughter of the late W. Frank Martin and Helen I. (Gladfelter) Martin.

Joanne was the valedictorian of the class of 1946 of the William Penn Senior High School.  She was graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Wilson College, where her fields of concentration were Spanish and French.  She pursued other interests at York College and Penn State York.

A life member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, she taught for forty-seven years in the pre-school department of the Sunday School, where she found great joy in knowing the children of the church.  She was a former member of the choir and of the hand bell choir.

Joanne was a member of the Casper Glattfelder Association of America.  She was a former member of the Cool Creek Country Club for forty years, where she shot a hole-in-one on the second hole in 1983.  She was a member of the AARP Golf Association of the Briarwood Golf Course.

She was devoted to her extended family and called her mother her best friend.  Her nieces admired her greatly for her warmth, integrity, and sense of style. In her retirement, after decades working for Caterpillar, she maintained a large network of friends and associates.  She had many routines and traditions that kept her friends close, such as regular restaurant dates, group birthday celebrations, or attending reunions at Wilson College. For years, she breakfasted at The Colonial Coffee Shop.

Survivors are her nieces, Susan Lilly and her husband, Erik Ackerson of Portland, Oregon; Roxane Martin of San Francisco, California; Jessica and her husband, Brian Yorgey, of Corvallis, Oregon; Katrina and her husband, William Brand, of Jackson Heights, New York; Theodora and her husband, Stephen Kirkland, of Lexington, Massachusetts; and Karen Martin of Lindstrom, Minnesota; two grandnephews; eight grandnieces; as well as three great-grandnephews and five great-grandnieces; and two cousins.

Joanne was predeceased by her brothers, Dr. William H. Martin and Philip R. Martin; her stillborn sister, Mary Lou; her sisters-in-law Mary Katharine (Mrs. William Martin) and Judy (Mrs. Philip Martin); and her dear friend, Jere M. Allen.

Joanne was very grateful to Betsy Hopkins, Kathy Engelhart, Shelley Doyle, Patricia Stough, Jan Botterbusch, and Sally Hoh for their help and good cheer in her later years.  She loved her wonderful neighbors, Karen and Gary Hollenbaugh, whose loving care made it possible for her to remain in her home until she moved to a nursing facility.  Her years there were overseen by Laura and Mike Strine, which Joanne greatly appreciated and for which her family is deeply grateful.

While we mourn Joanne’s passing, we will always cherish the memory of her gracious nature, supreme tact, peaceful spirit, and the time we spent with her.  We are thankful to have known her.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 947 North George Street, in York, with The Reverend Beth Schlegel STS officiating.  There will be a visitation from 9:00-10:00 AM.  Interment will be at Mount Rose Cemetery.  Arrangements are by Kuhner Associates Funeral Directors, Inc., 863 South George Street, York.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 947 North George Street, York, PA 17404.