She was born in Collierville, Tennessee in 1932. The second of five siblings, she graduated from Charity Hospital School of Nursing as a registered nurse. After raising her family and working as a nurse in New York, in 1982 Joan married William B. Cole, Jr and settled in Chattanooga. She loved Jesus, her family, birds, flowers and trees. Joan was a member of Brainerd Presbyterian Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her former husband.
Joan is survived by her loving husband, William B. Cole, Jr.; her siblings, June Coopwood of TN, Brenda Keith of NY, Jim (Diane) Simmons of FL, and Bonny (David) Cothren of NC; her three children, Bob Ratcliffe of FL, Sandy (Jack) Bowen of TN and Don Ratcliffe of TN; stepchildren, Linda (Don) Varnell of TN, Sandy Cole of TN, Bill (Selena) Cole of GA, and Donald (Paula) Cole of TN; 10 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
Services for Joan will be private for the family only.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Hearth Hospice and Kim Walker’s 24 hour Caregivers for the incredible care they gave to Joan.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.
