Obituary of Joan M King

Joan, of Washington, D.C., passed away on August 7, 2021. She and her identical twin sister, June Helmer (husband Ray) who survives her, were born and raised in Elkhart County, Indiana. She was predeceased by her parents, Harvey George and Margaret Catherine (Bariger) Shearer, and her younger brother, Harvey Jr. She is survived by her children, Jeff King (wife Dawn) and Jennifer Thompson (husband Derek), and her grandchildren Dena (husband Vijay), Jeffrey and Madeline King and Tara Thompson.

Joan graduated from Indiana University and led a varied career, but spent most of her working years as a legal secretary at a prominent law firm in Washington, D.C. Joan’s life was rich with friendships, some decades long and others new. With her sparkling eyes and cheerful smile she enjoyed time with friends and family visiting, cooking, playing bridge, watching the performing arts, knitting, traveling, volunteering, and serving as an active member of her church.

An open streaming Zoom memorial service, hosted by the First Congregational United Church of Christ in D.C., will be held on September 12, 2021 at 3:00 EST. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan’s honor to the Capital Area Food Bank in D.C. or similar local organization working to help feed those in need, a cause she cared about deeply.

Joan will ultimately be laid to rest at the Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park in Granger, Indiana.