Marian Joanne Oliver Block

We sadly announce the passing of Marian Joanne Oliver Block (Joanne) on October 6, 2016, after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer's Disease. The second daughter born to George and Genevieve Oliver on September 17, 1930, Joanne grew up in Yakima, Washington. Joanne's great inspirations included her Dad -in addition to teaching school, he taught Sunday school, founded a local Boys Club, and owned cherry orchards which he tended on weekends and harvested each summer – her Mom, an accomplished pianist and church organist, and her older sister, Muriel, a brilliant student who she followed to Willamette University in Salem for undergraduate studies. Yakima was also the home of Joanne's future husband, Ted, who she married in 1954 after he returned from a deployment to Korea and she completed graduate school at Columbia University Teachers College in New York City. For the next 59 years, they enjoyed an exciting life that included 30 years of Army service for Ted. Always active in wives clubs and bridge clubs, Joanne also regularly found her way onto tennis courts and, after Ted retired from the Army at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, worked as a real estate agent. Joanne and Ted were always active in the church, and Joanne sang in numerous choirs. In 2003, Ted and Joanne left New Jersey and moved to Patriot's Colony in Williamsburg, Virginia. Williamsburg's great weather and history, along with so many friends and activities - Joanne played tennis, bridge, swam hundreds of laps in the pool, attended tai chi classes, and sang in the community chorus - were a great fit for Joanne and Ted. Joanne lost her husband, Ted, in 2012, and continued to live in Patriot’s Colony until her death. In addition to her husband, Joanne was predeceased by her oldest son, Theodore Block, Jr. and her sister-in-law, Alice Block; she is survived by her sister, Muriel Winterscheid, and her husband, Loren, of Mercer Island, Washington and their family; brother-in-law, John Block of Corvallis, Oregon and his family; three children, Gregory Block of Alexandria, Virginia, Kathleen Pearsall of Carthage, New York, and Jacqueline Sellers of Arlington, Virginia, and their spouses; and eight grandchildren. Joanne will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery where she will join her beloved husband, Ted; services at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (alzinfo.org).