Grace Joann Whitehead passed away peacefully at 6:45 a.m. on November 6, 2019. She was born on May 8, 1935 in Cato, Indiana to William Alva and Ruby Imogene (Selby) Barnett.
She was a 1953 graduate of Otwell High School. She went on to graduate from Deaconess School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse. She worked at Jasper Memorial Hospital and retired from a 39-year career as a school nurse in the Pike County School Corporation. She was a life-long member of the Otwell United Methodist Church.
Joann married Donald Craig Whitehead on March 23, 1957 at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Cato. She is survived by her husband, Donnie, of 62 years. Her children, Terri Whitehead, Mitch (Sally) Whitehead, and Dave (Alicia) Whitehead, grandchildren Jordan (Bobby), Alex (Laura), Hayley (Zach), Ben (Rachel), and Zach (Rileigh) and one great-grandchild, Joelle Grace.
Joann loved to read, travel, sing in the church choir, loved music, theatre, loved a good joke, and to go on outings with her closest friends. She loved being a grandmother and was proud of each of their accomplishments. She also embraced the country life, supporting her husband in farming for over 60 years.
A Celebration of Life will be held t 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 9, 2019 at the Otwell United Methodist Church in Otwelll, Indiana with burial to follow in the Otwell Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 8, 2019 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Otwell United Methodist Church and from 9:00 -11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Otwell United Methodists church. Online condolence may be made at www.becherkluesner.com
