Camp Point native and current resident Joan L. Booth 93, passed away peacefully after a short illness surrounded by family and her special care provider and sister in-law, Patty Booth at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois on April 7, 2021. She was born at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, IL on April 22, 1927.

 

Joan was the 4th child and 3rd daughter of the 13 children born to William N. and Gladys E. Davis Booth.

Joan attended grade school and graduated from Maplewood High School in Camp Point, Illinois. After high school she attended and graduated from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois and later the Air University Professional Management College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

During 20 years of distinguished service to her country in the United States Air Force, Joan attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Locations of military service for Lt. Col. Booth included United States based assignments in Utah, Massachusetts, Alabama, Washington, DC and California. Locations of overseas assignments included England, the Phillippines, Thailand and Vietnam. While serving her country Lt. Col Booth was presented the following decorations and awards: the Bronze Star Medal (Meritorious Service while assigned in Southeast Asia), Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal (with one Oak Leaf Cluster), the National Defense Service Medal (with one Bronze Star), the Air Force Reserve Medal ( with Hour Glass Device), the Air Force Longevity Service Award ( with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters) the Outstanding Unit Award ( with "V" Device), the Republic of Korea Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal ( with 1 Bronze Service Star).

After her military retirement, Lt. Col. Booth chose Tucson, AZ as her home and began selling real estate in the growing Tucson area. She sold real estate with Peacock Realty for 20 years. After her retirement she also began supporting Junior Golf in Tucson and continued to support youth programs in the area for the next 32 years.

Joan also supported two causes that had special family meaning and significance. Joan supported the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and in her final wishes was a major benefactor to Hebron Cemetery.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her older brother William S. Booth, her older sisters Georgia Booth Curry, and Ellen Jean Booth Meyers, younger brothers Ben Booth, Wil Booth and Herb Booth and younger sisters Charlotte Booth Brace- Sjastaad and Judi Booth Knight. She is survived by her younger sisters Betty Booth Pitts of Plainfield, IL, Polly Booth Jacobs of Galesburg, IL and her younger brothers Chris Booth ( Gin) of Farmington Hills, MI and Jerry Booth (Patty) of Camp Point, IL. She is also survived by a cousin, Duane Evans of St. Louis, 27 loving nieces and nephews and numerous great and great grand nieces and nephews.

In order to be closer to family, in 2017 Joan moved from Tucson back to Illinois and resided first in Golden, IL and later near her hometown of Camp Point. She was assisted with travel and appointments recently by her special care provider and sister in-law, Patty Booth.

Per her request and wishes, Joan was accordred cremation services by Lummis-Hamilton Funeral Home in Camp Point and her remains were interred in the family plot at Hebron Cemetery in Rural Camp Point.

A Celebration of Life, with military honors provided by the Camp Point VFW Honor Guard, and U.S. Air Force representatives from Scott AFB, recognizing the incredible life Joan Booth lived, and the legacy she left behind, was held jointly with celebrations for Brother In-Law, David Pitts, Nephew Gregory Pitts and Sister Judith Booth Knight on Wednesday May 26, 2021 at Hebron Cemetery. The service and celebration for Joan was lead and conducted by Nephews Dennis Jacobs, Jon Booth, Tom Myers and Hugh Knight.