Joan Elizabeth Ginter died peacefully at home from cancer on July 26, 2017.
She spent her last five months patiently waiting for Jesus to take her to heaven. She was 80 years old. Born in Erie, Pa. in August 1936, Joan (an Army brat) spent her youth in Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia, graduating from Columbus High in 1954. She moved with her family to Germany later that year. In Darmstadt, she met the Lieutenant who would become her husband of almost 60 years. Ken and Joan were married at Fort Benning in October 1957. For 26 years she led an exciting and demanding life as an Army wife. Military orders dictated frequent moves over long distances.
Four children were born during the first 16 years while the family moved 14 times back and forth across the country and twice out of country. A son was born in California, and three daughters in Virginia, at West Point, N.Y. and in the Panama Canal Zone. Other family moves were to Illinois, Texas, Hawaii, Washington D.C., Kansas, and back to California. Twice Joan had to be both mother and father to her children while her husband served 15 months in Korea, and later a year in Vietnam. During the last 10 years of Army life, six years were spent at West Point and four at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, with the family living in Peachtree City. Joan began a second career as a real estate agent with the PTC Marketing Group in 1981. She enjoyed great success for 15 years, retiring in 1996.
Her main purpose in life, however, was centered on her family. She gave love and wise counsel from her heart to her children and grandchildren. She provided her home as a haven to return to if any needed help to solve their problems. Her very kind and loving nature was the glue that has held her still growing family (which has now reached 22) together through the years. She was a very special person. Although almost half of the family lives out of state, all members come together at least twice each year to the person and home in PTC they love most of all– to be with their “Noni.”
Joan is survived by her husband, Ken; son, Gregory (Tampa, Fla.); daughters, Meri Beth Gilland (Clarksville, Tenn.), Lisa Ann Pauli and Laura Lyn Preble (both PTC); eleven grandchildren and one great grandson; two sisters, Marianne Lee (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) and Billie Awbrey (PTC); brother, Jackie Freeman (Valley, Ala.); and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Joan will be buried in the cemetery at West Point, N.Y., her favorite Army home. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City. A reception will follow the service.
Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Peachtree City – www.mowellfuneralhome.com
