Joan Kohne Branch, 81, of Winter Park, FL, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away on April 30, 2024 surrounded by the love and kindness of her family and friends.
She was born on September 22, 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio to the late Robert Kohne and Mildred Dickman Kohne. Joan graduated from St. Petersburg Junior College and The Florida State University where she earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Social Work and Education. She proudly served as President of Sigma Kappa Sorority and a Managing Editor of the FSU Newspaper, The Florida Flambeau.
In 1964 she met Bill Branch at the altar of the wedding of their good friends, where she was Maid of Honor and he was Best Man. She married Bill in 1965 and they moved to Merritt Island, FL where she began her distinguished career in education. Joan and Bill moved to Orlando in 1972 and she transitioned to Orange County Public Schools to serve as a social worker in the juvenile justice system, a teacher, and a curriculum coach before retirement.
Joan’s two great loves were her family and her Noles. She was a member of the FSU Emeriti Alumni Society, UCF Women’s Club and Retirement Assoc., and League of Women Voters. Additionally, Joan was a member of Winter Park Presbyterian Church for over 40 years, served as PTA President in multiple schools, and as a voracious reader was in multiple book clubs at any given time. She built long and lasting friendships, raised three beautiful daughters, and enjoyed traveling the world with Bill and their friends.
Joan is survived by her husband, Bill, three children, Beth Anne Cuda (Sean), Becky Branch-Trevathan (George), and Barb Ferguson (Scott), and her sister, Myra Elliott. She was so very proud of her nine grandchildren and great grandchild: Kacey Rowe (Kendall), Luke Rowe, Wade Cuda, Caroline Cuda, Ben Branch-Trevathan, Will Ferguson, Libby Ferguson, Kate Ferguson, JD Ferguson, and Emma Ferguson.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 29th, 2024 at 10:30am at Winter Park Presbyterian Church, 400 S. Lakemont Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32792. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Winter Park Presbyterian Church.