On March 23, 2021, JoAnn DeAtkine, loving wife, mother and grandmother went to be with Lord at the age of 79.

JoAnn was born on November 25, 1941 in Newport News, VA to Frank and Elizabeth Worsham. She lived with her mother in Boston, MA, while her father was deployed with the Navy during WWII. The family settled back in Newport News and lived there several years until they moved to nearby Hampton.

It was there she spent her teenage years, meeting future husband, David, in an art class, when they were both 16 years of age. After a romance that lasted (on and off) for nearly 3 years, the couple eloped to North Carolina, and were married shortly before their 19^th birthdays.

JoAnn was employed as a Nurse’s Aide at Mary Immaculate Catholic Hospital in Newport News, VA, continuing in that position even after having their first born. Her husband was a Cooperative Engineering student at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. He worked alternate semesters at the NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton. The couple, shifted back and forth between Hampton and Blacksburg for several years, until David graduated. The couple lived in a 30-ft trailer in Blacksburg, with young 2 children. Money was tight, but love was abundant.

After graduation in 1964, David took a position at the then Manned Spacecraft Center, now Johnson Space Center in Houston. There, JoAnn immersed herself in taking care of her growing family- as she was blessed with her third child. She loved her Church activities, gardening, decorating, shopping and traveling- with a particular affection for all things English and Scottish. Except for a 1-1/2-year “sabbatical” in Denver, CO., the family has lived in the Houston area for 55 years. JoAnn  considered herself a “Naturalized” Texas citizen, but never lost her love of her native Virginia. Love of Family was always the center point of her life.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her father, Frank, Sr., and mother, Elizabeth. She is survived by her loving husband, David, her sister, Jean, brother Frank, Jr. Childred, son, David, Jr. and his wife, Anne, daughter, Diana, and son, Gregory and his wife, Cyndi. She is also survived by her 7 grandchildren, Andrew, Elizabeth, Derek, Tristan, Mason, Mitchell and Nolen. Brothers-in-Law, Norvell and his wife, Terry, and Joe and his wife, Bonnie. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Celebration Of Life will be held at Crowder Funeral Home, Webster, TX, on April 10, at 2pm.