On Sunday, September 23 in Fairfax, VA after a short battle with cancer, at peace and free of pain. Joan was the beloved wife for 46 years of Lawrence Velte, loving mother of Elizabeth Velte Simon (Mark) of Fairfax, Eric Velte (Kathleen) of Haddon Township, NJ, and Daniel Velte of Richardson, TX, and sister of James Lentz of Columbia, SC. She was the consummate Nana to five grandchildren: Jack, Claire, Emily, Nathan, and Matthew. Joan graduated from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania with a degree in elementary education and taught in the city of Pittsburgh and overseas at the International school in Bangkok, Thailand. She followed teaching with a second career as an award-winning real estate agent in Northern Virginia. As an "Army Wife", Joan shepherded her family during overseas tours of duty in Thailand, Tunisia, Jerusalem, and Jordan, as well as across the United States. After working at the State Department for several years, she returned to public education as an administrator at Cooper Middle School in McLean from where she retired.
Her Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday, October 3rd at 11 AM in Cushing Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joan's memory to Capital Caring (formerly Capital Hospice). Donations may be made online at: www.capitalcaring.org or by mail to Capital Caring, 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA 22042.