Joan Ruth (Green) Warren

Joan Ruth (Green) Warren (88) passed away on January 24 at 1:13pm in Kendallville, Indiana, at Chandler Place.  She was born on April 8, 1933, to Anna Belle (Clark) Green and Milford Vance Green, in Mt. Cory, Ohio.  On June 3, 1956, she married her high school sweetheart Robert (Bob) Warren at Pleasant View United Methodist Church in Mt. Cory, Ohio.
 
Joan is survived by her husband Robert (Bob) Warren and daughter Jean (Brooks) Gekler of Kirkland, Washington, twin daughters Carol (Tim) Holcomb of Wolcottville, Indiana, and Cathy (Jim) Malke of Chesterfield, Missouri, and son Rich (Michelle) Warren of Scottsdale, Arizona, and grandchildren Matthew Holcomb, Grant Janssen, Erin Janssen and Connor (Kavan) Holcomb.  She was preceded in death by her brothers, Richard C. Green, Bernard C. Green, Kenneth V. Green and James E. Green. 
 
Joan graduated from Cory-Rawson High School, Mt. Cory, Ohio. Upon graduation, she pursued business courses at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.  After one year, she left BGSU to pursue an administrative management role in the Purchasing Department at Marathon Oil in Findlay, Ohio.  As her husband Bob’s career moved to college and university posts, she resumed her college education, taking classes part-time as she raised her four children.  She completed courses at Bluffton University (Ohio), Heidelberg University (Ohio) and Indiana State University (Terre Haute, IN), and graduated from ISU in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Education. 
 
After earning her degree she taught business classes at South Putnam H.S. (Greencastle) and Sullivan H.S.  She joined IVY Tech Community College in 1977 and spearheaded the Adult Basic Education Program that was a joint effort between Ivy Tech and the Indiana Department of Corrections.  This program provided high school equivalency opportunities for incarcerated individuals.  As part of this initiative, she taught business classes at the U.S. Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute for 12 years.
Her husband, Bob, was a coach (football, basketball, and track & field) at the college and high school levels, and she was a constant and loyal fan of his teams.  Attending all home games, she also drove to countless away games with her children and friends.  This faithful and devoted attendance of sporting events extended to the athletic endeavors of her children and grandchildren.  
Joan was a gifted seamstress.  Other hobbies and interests included playing cards, cooking, gardening, bowling, playing the piano, and traveling.  She belonged to the Terre Haute Garden Club and was a member of the United Methodist Temple in Terre Haute for over 45 years.  Outgoing and engaging, she was a true friend and neighbor to so many people during her lifetime. 

The family has asked that memorial contributions be made in her name to the United Methodist Temple, Terre Haute, Indiana.  Services will be held privately.

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