Joan Wilmot Bain died peacefully in her home in Vero Beach, FL on January 2, 2021 three weeks shy of her 95 th birthday .

Joan is survived by her sons, Jim (wife Merry Lee) of Ocala, FL and Bob (wife Vesna) of Manhattan Beach, CA, and her brother Dr. Ben Wilmot of Falls Church, VA. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by nearly everyone she knew but not ably her beloved eldest son, Don, and her husband of over 60 years, Andrew.

Joan was born on January 28, 1926 in Waterbury, CT to Mary Puffer Wilmot and B. Dayton Wilmot. She proudly graduated from Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA in 1948 with a degree in journalism . She married Andrew , also in 1948 , with whom she fell in love in college . After moving to Indiana shortly thereafter , Joan began working as a stay-at-home Mom. Over the next few years the couple welcomed three sons into their home and Joan set about the daunting task of teaching them how to be caring, well-mannered boys. Her boys (and their friends) remember her as a first-class mother who encour aged them to pursue their goals and provided unbridled support for each of them.

Joan was a voracious reader. She could most often be found engrossed in a good book or visiting the local book stores searching for new things to read. She also loved to travel. When she couldn't travel anymore, she traveled through the books she read. When her eyes failed and she couldn't read anymore, she traveled in her mind and continued to do so until the day of her death. She particularly loved the British Isles and most especially England. Even in her last days, she was imagining herself in England and beyond. She was both clever and funny as well as gracious and kind. Her greatest desire in life was that her sons grow up to be kind and caring (and well mannered) young men. In her younger years, she was active in many local philanthropic and service organizations but maintained her focus on her husband, her boys, and their friends.

A small service and Celebration of Life is planned for late spring of 2021 in West Lafayette, IN . In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Macular Degeneration Research at B rightFocus Foundation ,
22512 Gateway Center Drive , Clarksburg, MD 20871 (or) Children's Literacy Initiative at 990 Spring Garden St., Suite 400 , Philadelphia, PA 19123 . The family would like to thank Joan's caregivers, Steve, Tom, Shonnon, Nadine, and Kency for their loving care and dedication to both Joan and her constant canine companion, Onyx.