Barbara Joan Curl Holycross, 92, of Bellefontaine, passed away Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at Mary Rutan Hospital after a brief illnessJoan was born in Zanesfield, on April 19, 1928. She was the youngest daughter of the late John Francis and Irma Myrtle (Randall) Curl. She was also preceded in death by an infant daughter Sharon Kaye Holycross, her sisters and brothers-in-law Betty (Homer) Taylor and Martha (Will) Taylor, and by her great-grandson Kyle Matthew Roby.
Joan is survived by her loving husband of 73 years, Donald E. Holycross, whom she married on November 28, 1947; her children: Don (Lori) Holycross, Jr. of Logan, Karen (Tim) Fogt of Sidney; four grandchildren: Traci (Jon) Jones of Belle Center, Tonya (Clayton) Kindle and Terri (Shawn) Long, both of Quincy, and Jeff (Allie) Holycross of St. Louis; seven great-grandchildren: Maci Jones Francis, Kinzie Jones, Cole Jones, Luke Roby, Eli Kindle, Trey Long, Kale Long; the fifth generation of the family, a great-great-grandchild Akyla Roby; and extended family: Kelli (Rylan) Murphy, Julie (Justin) Henderson, Ashton (Anthony) and Ada Fullenkamp, and Justin Kindle.
A 1946 graduate of Zanesfield Monroe High School, Joan worked many hours alongside her husband as owners and operators of Spencerville IGA. She enjoyed car rides and traveling with Don, including Hawaii, Switzerland, Alaska and visiting the Grand Canyon. She attended Calvary Baptist Church in Bellefontaine for 30-plus years. Joan enjoyed attending her great-grandchildren’s sporting and school activities, and reading about them in the newspaper.
To her husband and her family, Joan was the epitome of an “Angel on Earth” and will be sorely missed by all. She was loving and selfless, always putting family first. She was an outstanding cook, especially noted for her potato salad, applesauce, chicken and noodles, pecan pies, and strawberry freezer jam. Joan would spend hours picking strawberries and making freezer jam for the entire family. However, when you complimented her cooking, she would deflect the compliment by saying her mother was better.
Pastor Jeff Willetts will officiate a private graveside service at Zanesfield Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 1140 Rush Ave. Bellefontaine, OH 43311.
Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Bellefontaine, is honored to serve the Holycross family and encourages anyone to share a fond memory or message of condolence at edsfh.com.