Joann Palmer

Joann Marie Johnston Palmer, 88, passed on Thursday, October 2, 2025. She was the daughter of Ralph E. and Sabina A (Miner) Johnston. She was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers Finley, Ralph, and Robert, her three sisters Genevieve "Kiki", Betty "Boomie", and Maryann, and her former husband, Jim Palmer.

She is survived by her daughters Stephanie (Jason) Coffee and Charlene Winslow, her beloved grandsons Noah Clark and Samuel Clark, her sister-in-law and friend Betty (Palmer) Markel, and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Joann was born on February 2, 1937 in Londonderry, Ohio. She was raised in Vinton County until she was 15 years old when her family moved to Columbus, Ohio.

After attending Central High School for one year, Joann moved back 'down home' to complete high school, graduating from Allensville H.S. in 1955. She lived that last year with her brother Robert, his wife Eunice and their three children.

Joann always remembered this time fondly as she felt at peace being back home in ‘the hills’ and getting to spend time with her little niece and nephews. She received a scholarship to the University of Rio Grande, Ohio, however she chose to move back to Columbus to help her parents.

Joann attended Columbus Business University, passed the Civil Service exam and obtained a job with the Federal Housing Administration/U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Joann spent 32 years and 8 months in government service in Columbus and Washington D.C. She had many accolades throughout her years of service.

After a busy and dedicated life to her two daughters, her family, and her profession she retired from HUD in 1992 to enjoy time with the family and friends she held so dear. She was thrilled to have more time to spend with her grandson Noah, who was just under two years old at the time, and within another year her second grandson, Samuel, was born. She spent a lot of quality time building loving relationships with both of her grandsons.

After she retired, Joann devoted her love and time to her grandsons, daughters, the rest of her family, and her many friends. She was known for her warmth and kindness, caring heart, welcoming nature and beautiful smile. Joann had close and loving relationships with her daughters, who cherished their times together. She was devoted to and enjoyed strong and loving relationships with her grandsons.

Joann also dedicated herself to her church family. She was a member of Bible Study Fellowship, a Lay Pastor at Meadow Park Church of God, served five years as a faithful Steven Minister at New Hope Reformed Church, taught Sunday school, volunteered, and sang in the church choir from 1954 throughout most of her life. Joann was a dedicated woman of prayer and was known to send the sweetest, most supportive notes filled with words of encouragement, sayings and poems, and prayers and Bible passages.

Joann moved to the Dayton area to live with her daughter Charlene in 2013. In 2018 she moved to Marysville, Ohio, to reside at Memorial Gables Memory Care Unit. During her residence there her naturally sweet disposition endeared her to the entire staff at The Gables.

Joann’s nickname Joie means joy in French and she most certainly brought much joy into all of the lives she touched.

Mother/grandmother/daughter/sister/aunt/friend, you brought laughter, joy, love and faith into our lives and we are forever blessed.

Joann wanted us all to know how much she loved God, her dear family, and her sweet friends, and that she drew strength from each one and wishes the love of all of those three, for all of us.