Joan Kathryn Spalding

Joan Kathryn Spalding, peacefully passed away on March 1, 2017, after a short illness.
Born on August 16, 1933, she was a lifelong resident of Summit County. Joan graduated in 1951 from John R. Buchtel High School, as a senior being awarded second prize in an essay contest sponsored by the Good Friendship Chapter of the Order of Ahepa and that same year received the Helen Parker Emmitt Scholarship awarded by the Akron Council of PTA. After graduation, she went on to The University of Akron College of Education where she joined the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, earning an undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Education Degree in 1955, followed by a Master of Science in Education Degree from AU in 1958.
Her teaching career began in 1955 in Barberton at Oakdale Elementary. She transferred to Woodford in 1958, and was appointed Principal of Santrock School in 1965, where she served until she returned to Oakdale as Principal in 1970. She concluded her 32 year career in education as Principal at Memorial Elementary School, retiring in 1986. Upon her retirement, one teaching colleague, Karen, wrote her a note stating, "You never expected more than you gave and that means a great deal. Of all those I worked for, I felt you brought out the best I had to give. You made me respect myself as a professional. I always felt if I could meet your standards, I must be doing something right."
Joan, an only child who was preceded in death by her parents, Fred W. and Kathryn A. (Smith) Spalding, was very involved in organizations and in community outreach, both during her career and afterwards. She was installed in 1961 as VP of the Barberton Professional Educator's Assoc. by TV news commentator, Dorothy Fuldheim and attended the National Science Foundation sponsored Summer Institute in math and physical science for elementary teachers at Beloit College that summer. She was appointed Educational Director of the Summer Head Start Program in 1968, was named in 1971 as school's division co-chair of the Barberton-Norton United Fund-Red Cross campaign, was awarded an Honorary Life Membership to the Ohio Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc. in 1973, presented to her by the Oakdale PTA, and was initiated by the Gama Lambda Chapter into the Delta Gamma Society International in Ohio in 1984. She fondly spoke of her volunteer work at the International Institute for 10 years after her professional career retirement.
In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening, reading, studying genealogy and, until recently, participating in monthly luncheons with her neighbor ladies.
A Mausoleum Chapel Committal Service will be held for Joan 11 a.m. Friday, March 10, 2017, at Rose Hill Burial Park, 3653 West Market Street, Fairlawn, Ohio 44333. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Akron Community Foundation, 345 West Cedar Street, Akron, Ohio 44307, or The Barberton Community Foundation, 460 W. Paige Avenue, Barberton, Ohio 44203. (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)