Margaret "Joann" J. Dishong

Margaret Joan Dishong, 88, of Saint Augustine, Florida, passed away at home at the Benton House of St. Johns on November 19, 2023. Affectionately known as Joann, she was born on September 17, 1935 in Everett, Pennsylvania. Joann married the love of her life, Dick Dishong, on June 11, 1955 in Cumberland, Maryland. Dick passed away just thirteen days prior to Joann. She did not want to be on this earth without him, her heart was broken.

Joann is survived by two sons, Rick and wife Ann, and Mike and wife Peggy. She has five grandsons, Joshua, Joseph and Christopher (Rick) and Benjamin and Daniel (Mike). In addition she has three great grandsons, Carson and Hudson (Daniel) and Brooks (Benjamin). Joann has one surviving sister, Barbara Erazo.

Joann attended grade school in Everett, Pennsylvania and graduated from Everett High School in 1953. As a young military wife Joann moved from Pennsylvania, living in Colorado, New Jersey and Delaware prior to settling in Woodbridge, Virginia where she lived until 1995 when Dick retired.

Joann was a crafty lady, enjoying making flower arrangements, cake decorating, working with ceramics, painting and crocheting. She loved going to yard sales on Saturday mornings or craft shows with her friends and family. She enjoyed attending the boy’s baseball and football games, family camping and fishing trips to Lake Arrowhead, summer vacations to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and family picnics in the back yard. Joann was an avid Washington Redskin fan. She and Dick started a country band in the early 1980’s known as Country Tradition for which she was the drummer.

Joann had a long career in Virginia in the direct mail industry as a general manager where she was responsible for the daily operations of the business, selling and servicing the customer accounts, attending industry based education classes, keeping up with changing postal regulations and learning and implementing computer systems. Joann was responsible for dozens of employees, maintaining friendships with many even after retirement.

Joann moved back to Pennsylvania when Dick retired, until the spring of 2023 when they moved to St. Augustine, Florida to be near Mike and Peggy. Florida came with sunny days and warm temperatures providing an opportunity to really enjoy her screen porch, time she cherished watching the birds at the pond and visiting with family and friends. She had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with her three great grandsons on her porch, sharing stories about the past and hearing about all the things they were doing. Joann had a great sense of humor, easily making everyone laugh. She was a very kind woman with a heart of gold, who would help anyone in need. Joann was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother who will be missed dearly by her loved ones. The Dishong family would like to extend a special thank you to the Benton House Family for the love and caring support they’ve provided since Joann moved to Saint Augustine.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday November 30, 2023, 2:00 pm, at the Jacksonville National Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida where she will be laid to rest with her husband Dick.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

www.Stjude.org (online donations)

800-805-5856 (by phone)

501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (by mail)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgstjohns.com for the Dishong family.