Joan D. Gates

Joan D. Gates, of Virginia Beach, VA, 23462, was 89 years old when she rose with the angels to meet her Savior. She is survived by her daughter, Dolores (Dodie) Peltier, and son-in-law Jay Peltier; son, Donald P. Gates, Sr., and daughter-in-law, Linda Susan Gates. Also surviving her are her granddaughter, Debra L. Bryant and her husband, John Bryant; grandsons Mathew C. Radley and Donald P. Gates, Jr.; great granddaughter Caitlyn Bryant, and great grandsons Brandon Bryant, Justin Bryant, Cullen Radley, Dallis Radle; and step great grandson, Reilly Fentress.

Joan was born in Parkersburg, WV, on February 28, 1928, to Florence Roberta Nagel and Clarence E. Wright. She was a very crafty person, having dabbled in knitting, crocheting, sewing, upholstery, painting, ceramics – anything hand crafted. She was an avid seamstress and even taught sewing classes at the Sears store on 21st Street in Norfolk for a short time.

At age 40, Joan attended the LPN Nursing Program at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and served on the post-surgical floor for some time and transferred to Sentara Leigh Memorial Hospital where she served in the physical therapy department until her retirement in 1986.

Her big love was music, expressed thru piano and organ. She was the first organist at First View Baptist Church in Norfolk, from 1957 thru 1963, when her husband’s naval career moved the family across the Atlantic Ocean to London, England from 1963-1966. Upon return to the United States, she settled in Virginia Beach and became the organist at New Heights Fellowship (formerly known as Virginia Heights Baptist Church), where she served until 2014. She was active in both churches in the children’s ministries and Vacation Bible Schools in earlier days and later focused on music ministries.

Joan was able to combine the nursing and music careers and, in doing so, she lived a life of service to those around her. She will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be held Thursday, January 11, 2018, from 6-8 pm at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 6329 E. Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk, VA. A funeral service will be held Friday, January 12, 2018 at 2 pm at the same location.