Aug 11, 2018

Joan B. Elliott, 78, went home to be with Jesus Thursday, August 2, 2018, in Cypress Village, Jacksonville, Fla.

Born April 3, 1940, in Washington, she was a daughter of the late Paul Byron and Freda Wolfe Elliott.

Joan spent her early years in Amity, graduating from Trinity High School in 1958. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from California State College.

While teaching in Upper St. Clair School District for 12 years, she earned her master’s degree from West Virginia University. Joan was awarded her doctorate in 1981 from Penn State University. During the next 30 years, until her retirement in 2012, she was a professor of reading in the elementary education department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Joan was a member and leader of many professional organizations including the Indiana Reading Council, Keystone State Reading Association, International Reading Association and many others. She wrote numerous articles and books on the subject of “teaching of reading” and traveled extensively to attend professional conferences and make presentations on the subject of literacy.

In her spare time, Joan enjoyed singing in the choir at Greystone Presbyterian Church, where she was a member, traveling throughout the world, cooking, gardening and entertaining her “adopted” children and grandchildren who loved her deeply.

Joan is survived by her niece, Rachael Elliott (Mark) Walsh and their children, Amelie and Iris of Glenside; her lifelong dear friends, Judy and Jim Mudrey of St. John’s, Fla., Amanda Joan (Andrew) Bartell and their children, Brayden, Tegan, Decker and Bowen of Ponte Vedra, Fla., and Lucas (Lynn) Mudrey and their children, Hutton, Rowen, Finn and Ford of Fort Mill, S.C.; and two cousins, Carol Torres and Elliott Zimmerman.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, Paul B. Elliott Jr., who died in 1975.

Joan realized the importance of having Jesus Christ in her life and tried to implement his teachings and principles in her daily walk. She was a friend to many, helping and giving of her talents and time.

One of Joan’s goals was to impact the lives of her students and implement positive change in the teaching of reading. Because of this, the Joan B. Elliott Elementary Education Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

A celebration of life and burial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 18, in Amity United Methodist Church, 644 Amity Ridge Road, Amity, PA 15311. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: IUP, Joan B. Elliott Memorial Scholarship Fund, Fund Code 0682, 1101 South Drive, 310 Sutton Hall, Indiana, PA 15705.

Additional information and a guest book are available at www.NealFuneralHome.com.