Mary JoAnn (Speaks) Barnhart, age 94, passed away peacefully on July 15, 2025. She was born in Niantic, IL, in 1931. JoAnn married the love of her life, “Barney” (Bucyrus, OH), in 1955 and they moved to Columbus, OH in 1960. JoAnn worked for Bank One (Chase Bank) for many years before her retirement in 1993. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. “Barney” Barnhart, her parents, Lois B. (Gass) Speaks and William D. Speaks, and her brother William V. Speaks.
JoAnn is survived by her children, Brian E. Barnhart (Palm Springs, CA), Mary Christine (Thomas) Battocletti (Indianapolis, IN) and Matthew E. (Sunny) Barnhart (Rockledge, FL). She is also survived by three grandchildren, Allissa Battocletti (Matthew) Noffke, Robert L. (Courtney) Barnhart, David M. (Nicole) Barnhart, and five great grandchildren, Ava, Noah, Coral and Sadie Barnhart and Chloe Noffke.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Disabled American Veterans at https://www.dav.org/ in JoAnn’s name.
