- Date Of Birth: September 5, 1939
- Date Of Death: September 7, 2015
- State: Michigan
Joan M. Ovaitt, age 76, of Midland, went to the Kingdom of the Lord on Monday morning September 7, 2015 at her residence surrounded by her family. The daughter of the late W. Arthur and Mary (Robertson) Coakes was born September 5, 1939 in Hamilton, Ohio.
She was raised and educated in Flint area graduating from Atherton High School in 1957 as Valedictorian and attended Michigan State University. Joan married William T. Ovaitt on June 20, 1959 in Flint. In 1965 she began her Dow Chemical Company career as a part-time employee in Midland. In 1980 Joan and Bill transferred to Dow Latin America in Coral Gables, Florida where she worked in the accounting department.
In 1983, they transferred to Dow Consumer Products in Indianapolis, IN. She joined the Customer Service Department and worked in as a customer service representative until her retirement in 1994 Joan and Bill moved back to Midland in 2004 to be closer to their grandchildren.
Joan was an accomplished vocalist and from 1966-2004 was a member of the Sweet Adelines International. She sang in Midland Sweet Adelines Chorus and the Capital City Chorus in Indianapolis and had the opportunity to sing with the chorus in International competition. She also sang in several barbershop quartets including the Notations, Promisory Notes, Just 4 Fun Quartets and High! Maintenance. She was an accomplished seamstress, a volunteer driver for Senior Services and an active member of Poseyville United Methodist Church.
Joan is survived by her husband of 56 years, Bill; son, Donald Ovaitt of Beal City; daughter, Deborah Edgecombe of Longmont, Colorado; grandchildren, Clayton Edgecombe, Christine (Pat) Mullan, Danielle, Jacquelyn and Jonathon Ovaitt; great grandchildren Oliver Mullan and Elizabeth Ovaitt; sister, Carol (John) Ducat and brother in law, James Reid. In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her sister Ann Reid.
