Our family is saddened to announce the passing of Joan A. Jones on September 29, 2023, in her own home. She was age 92. Joan Agnes Fennema was born on October 6, 1930, in Clinton, Oklahoma to Mary Elizabeth Wood Fennema and Dirk Fennema. She was an adored only child of older parents, learning early to memorize and recite poetry. At the ice cream plant owned and managed by her father, she could consume all the ice cream she wanted. In her early teens, the family moved to Winfield, KS. Her father passed away when she was 14.

Joan graduated from Winfield High School in 1948. She began her studies at Southwestern College, living at home with her mother. While in a college play, a courtship with Richard T. “Dick” Jones, Jr. blossomed. They were married on May 28, 1950, at the First Presbyterian Church in Winfield. Soon after, Joan graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English. In 1952, Dick secured a job with Conoco and the couple moved to Ponca City with their baby daughter Rosemary and Joan’s mother. Joan set about creating a happy and welcoming home to rear their four children. In addition to being a homemaker, Joan worked as a substitute teacher and a high school English teacher. Yet her dream was to be a nurse. She earned her RN from Northern Oklahoma College and practiced nursing in the hospital, at Dr. Irons’ office, as a school nurse, and teaching prepared childbirth classes. After they retired, Joan and Dick set out to see the world. They visited all 50 states and several Pacific islands. They had adventures on all seven continents including a bicycle tour of Holland, trekking through the Himalayas with Sherpas, hang gliding in New Zealand, and rafting in Antarctica, not to mention participating in an archeological dig on Easter Island. They enjoyed extended stays at their residences in New Mexico and Arizona. Joan was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, finding many ways to serve. Joan was active in children’s programs, serving as a homeroom mother, PTA officer, Campfire and Cub Scout leader, vacation bible school teacher, and coordinator for the band and orchestra fruit cake sales. She loved her bridge club and the friendships that grew from it. She and Dick enjoyed volunteering with Meals on Wheels. Joan appeared in a number of plays at Ponca Playhouse and served in other capacities there, running the box office for years. One memorable play was “On Golden Pond” with Joan and Dick cast as Ethel and Norman Thayer. Joan continued living in Ponca City until Dick’s passing. In 2017, she moved to Tulsa where she served as an active volunteer in her independent living apartment community. Most of all, Joan enjoyed family.

She is survived by her four children, Rosemary (Jim) Holt of Tulsa, Margaret Noble of Oklahoma City, David (Lia) Jones of Austin, TX, and Melody (Nancy) Jones of Tulsa; three grandchildren James (Ann) Holt of Tulsa, Emily (Robby) Walter of Edmond, and Joey Noble of Oklahoma City; seven great-grandchildren Christeline, JC, and Joanna Holt and Hannah, Caroline, Genevieve, and Robert Walter; nephew Brian (Gwen) Jones and niece Robyn (Greg) Landers of California; and many loving extended family members. Joan was preceded in death by her parents and by Dick, her sweetheart and husband.

Joan’s memorial service will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 9303 E. 111th St., Bixby, OK 74008. Interment will be at a later time at Highland Cemetery in Winfield, KS.

A graveside service will be Monday, October 9, 2023, at 12:00 noon at Highland Cemetery in Winfield, KS.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Meals on Wheels, c/o Connie Petersen, 8280 E. South Ave., Ponca City, OK 74604, to First Presbyterian Church, 1505 E. Grand, Ponca City, OK 74604, or to the charity of your choice.

The family would like to offer special thanks to Zareth “Z” Hernandez for her loving care and to the staff of Woodland Terrace for their kindness and support.

Paid Obituary