Joanne Virginia Donohue Watson, age 85, passed away peacefully on Friday Feb. 17, 2012 at Stonehenge Assisted Living in Blairsville, Ga. Joanne resided in Blairsville for the past five years. Born in Petaluma, Calif., on Nov. 26, 1926 the daughter of the late Emmett Ignatius Donohue and Doris Rockwell, she was proceeded in death by her husband John Rollin Watson, Jr. (1995) and her son John Rollin Watson III (1999) and her brother James Lockwood Donohue. She was a recent member of the First Baptist Church of Blairsville, Ga. While in Georgia she was active in Faith Sunday School Class, and the Beacon Mission Team. Joanne had a heart for missions.
Before coming to Blairsville, Joanne lived 47 years in Northern Virginia. While living in Great Falls she was an active member of the Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, where she served as an elder; a deacon; chair of the mission committee, where she oversaw the relocation and settlement of a refugee family with five children from Laos; worked in the Clothing Closet; active in Christmas in April (was one of the best painters on the team); made communion bread; a storyteller; and acted in many church and local plays.
While in Herndon, she was a member of the Herndon United Methodist Church.
Before coming to Northern Virginia Joanne traveled the four corners of the world with her husband living in Alaska (before it was a state), Cambodia (before the wars), and Costa Rica. She was raised in California living in many cities (sixteen- but who’s counting) up and down the west coast, some including San Francisco, Carmel, San Diego, Monterey and Pasadena. Her love for the ocean and beach were known by all, she was an avid traveler, and "never met a stranger."
Survivors include: daughter and son-in-law Janice and Charles Coon of Bluemont, Va.; daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Mike Baldwin of Blairsville, Ga.; and son and daughter-in-law William and Virginia Watson of Little Washington, Va.; grandchildren Jason Watson and wife Jessica (New York, NY); Captain Christopher Baldwin (US Army) and wife Erika; Sarah Steel (Herndon, Va.); Timothy Baldwin and Jennifer Peterson (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.); Kelly Steel and fiancé Henry Brooks (Sterling, Va.); and two great grandsons Marcello and Javier Watson. Survived also by her brothers Emmett Donohue (Dolores, Colo.) and, F. Martin Donohue (Melbourne, Fla.) and by numerous much-loved nieces and nephews around the world.
Services in Northern Virginia will be on Saturday March 3, at 3 p.m. at the Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, 1724 Chainbridge Road, McLean, VA 22101 led Rev. Justin White and Rev. Deborah McKinley. Interment and reception to follow the service.
In her memory if you wish to donate funds or time at your local shelter or food bank or a mission project donations may be made to Lewinsville Foundation 1724 Chainbridge Road, McLean, VA 22101 or Herndon United Methodist Church, VIM (Volunteer in Mission) scholarship, 701 Bennett Street, Herndon, VA 20170.