M. Joan Whitman

M. Joan Whitman, 106, died October 17, 2010 at Kendal at Oberlin where she had been a resident since 1997. She was born June 16, 1904 in Appleton, Wisconsin, taking courses at Lawrence College while still in high school. Her interests ran to drama and dance, and she soon began to teach courses and to write and direct plays for children. She married Mike Whitman, which brought her into the J.C. Penney family. When a J.C. Penney store opened in Elyria in 1935 they moved to Elyria and Mike became its manager. Her husband died in 1962 and Joan remained in Elyria for an additional 20 years until moving to Vermilion and then to Oberlin. She was active in civic affairs in Elyria, especially as a founding member of the Elyria Service League. She is an honorary member, not only of the League but of the EMH Regional Medical Center Board, for her years of service to the hospital.
The walls of her home were decorated with works of counted cross-stitch which she had done over the past 40 years. She was also an avid bridge player, lover of gardening and for years golfed at Elyria Country Club where she was a lifetime member. She was also a lifetime member of Elyria Womans Club and a member of First United Methodist Church in Wellington.
Joan is survived by her daughter, Mary June(L. John)Miller of Wellington; grandchildren, J. Michael Miller of Seattle, Washington, Lisa J. (Dan) Trinter of Wellington, Steve P.(Jayne)Miller of Eastlake and Tina K.(Ron) Kneisler of Irmo, South Carolina; 7 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marion Mike E. Whitman in 1962. A funeral service will be Wednesday 2:00 PM at Dicken Funeral Home, 323 Middle Avenue, Elyria with Reverend Lea A. Mahan officiating. Burial will be in Brookdale Cemetery, Elyria. Memorial contributions may be made to Kendal Resident Assistance Fund, 600 Kendal Drive, Oberlin. Online condolences may be made to www.dickenfuneralhome.com.

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