Joanne Lucille Newman

Joanne was born in Yakima on February 19, 1934, to Ben and Ruby Frederick, the second of two daughters. She graduated from Yakima High School in 1952 and attended Washington State University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education. During her senior year at WSU, she was nearly run over by a young man driving a classy Ford convertible. Dave Newman stopped to apologize and offered to buy her a drink. It was on this date that they realized they both had separate plans to soon be traveling to the Hawaiian Islands, Dave for an Air Force assignment and Joanne as a graduation gift to visit friends and relatives. It wasn’t too long before they were engaged and planning a wedding in Yakima for the following June. The newlywed couple spent their first years together stationed in Hawaii while Dave completed his Air Force assignment and Joanne taught at a local school. The couple played bridge and tennis in their spare time, two favorite lifelong hobbies. Joanne became a Gold Level Life Master Duplicate Bridge player and remained a competitive tennis player well into her 80’s.

After leaving the islands, Joanne continued her school teaching career at Marcus Whitman Elementary in Cowiche, WA before pursuing a full-time focus on family and maintaining the home/farm on Naches Heights. Between raising four kids, helping to corral various wayward livestock, and assisting with apple harvest, Joanne also found time to volunteer with several local organizations. She served as a court advocate for underprivileged youth and families in the Yakima County Court system, volunteered at Memorial Hospital serving those in need and sang in the choir at Wesley United Methodist Church for many years. Joanne’s active mind and body kept her strong right to the end, her productive and energetic lifestyle set an example to those around her; she will be missed by many.

Joanne is survived by her husband Dave Newman, sister Geraldine Martin, her children Vicki (Kevin) Carlson, Pam (John) Bohannon, Randy (Marla) Newman and Brad (Clover) Newman, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by both her parents Ben and Ruby Frederick.

A special thanks to the staff at Fieldstone Memory Care of Yakima for their wonderful care and treatment of Joanne over the past two years.

A memorial service honoring Joanne will take place on April 27, 2024, at Keith and Keith Funeral Home in Yakima. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.