Joan E. Whitehouse

She was born on August 19, 1932, in Wichita Falls, Texas to Alfred Richard Emerson and Irene Beatrice Emerson.

She graduated from Smithville High School in 1949. After high school she worked at the Smithville hospital and later for Southwestern Bell. She met Melvin and the two were married on February 26, 1954 and moved to Austin. She retired from Tracor in 1989. She was an active member of Southwest Christian Church in Austin for many years. She and Mel enjoyed traveling in their travel trailer throughout the U.S. She especially enjoyed spending the month

of October fishing in Rockport, TX.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents; sister Rea Gorski, and brother Allen Richard "Jack" Emerson.

She is survived by her husband, of 61 years, Melvin E. Whitehouse; sons and daughters-in-law, Denny and Nell Whitehouse of Buda, TX, and Gary and Debbie Whitehouse of Seguin, TX; four grandchildren, Jeremy Whitehouse of Seguin, TX, Katie McClendon and husband Mark of Kyle, TX, Elisa Whitehouse of Seguin, TX, and Lance Whitehouse of Buda, TX; and two great-grandchildren, Kimber McClendon, and Ryan McClendon of Kyle, TX; sister Bobbie Moore and husband Don of Bartlesville, OK, brother-in-law Joe Gorski of Arvada, CO, and sister-in-law Grace Emerson of Farmers Branch, TX, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at the Cook- Walden/Capital Park Funeral Home in Pflugerville, TX. Funeral service will be at 1:00pm, Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow at Cook-Walden Memorial Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Missions Ministry of Southwest Christian Church or the Lewy Body Dementia Association at www.Ibda.org or New Century Hospice.