Joan Billig Fleming, age 79, passed to her eternal home on November 23, 2017. Joan was born and raised on a farm in rural Catawissa, PA to Lewis and Carrie Billig in 1938. She graduated from Roaring Creek Valley High School in Numidia, PA in 1955. Joan has 3 siblings: Ruth Kreischer, Albert Billig, both deceased, and Gladeth O’Gorman who resides in Leesburg, FL in the Mayfield Retirement Center.
Joan is survived by her beloved high school sweetheart and husband, Gene K. Fleming. Gene is the son of Samuel and Laura Fleming. He was born and raised in Newlin, PA.
Joan graduated from the Polyclinic Hospital school of Nursing in Harrisburg, PA in 1958 after which Gene and Joan married and moved to Chapel Hill, NC, and resided there 2 years while Gene attended graduate school and Joan was employed as an RN at UNC Memorial Hospital. She also later worked in a pediatric office in Rockville, MD and at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital for 12 years; retiring in 1995 and moving to their dream home log cabin on top of Lost Mountain, Romney, WV, living there 21 years after which they moved to Menno Haven Retirement Community in Chambersburg, PA until her passing.
Joan loved cooking, gardening, the outdoors and reading. She was a member of The Open Door Church in Chambersburg, PA. She and her husband also served the Lord through the Gideons International for 25 years.
She is survived by two daughters, Joan Smith and husband David of Berkley Springs, WV and Erin Betz and husband Joseph of Frederick, MD – also two sons, Randal Fleming and wife Verona of Smithsburg, MD and Wesley Fleming and Barbara Menendez of Aspen, CO. Also, 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
Joan loved the Lord Jesus Christ and strove to share His love and His great redemption which strengthened and sustained her through her 3 ½ years survival journey of pancreatic cancer.
A celebration of life service will be held at a date determined by the family.
In memory contributions can be sent to a local Camp of the Gideons International, to The Open Door Church, 600 Miller Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201 for mission support, or to a Christian Church of one’s choice. Arrangements are entrusted to the Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Chambersburg, PA.