Joan Lee Tidwell Smith
Alis Volat Propriis: She flies with her own wings!
Joan Lee Tidwell Smith, 86, died peacefully surrounded by her family on December 23, 2020. She was the wife of the late R. Winfield “Win” Smith of Marlborough Township. Joan was born on June 15, 1934 in Norfolk, VA to the late DeForest and Grace Tidwell. She graduated from Granby High School in 1952 and received bachelor and master degrees in Latin from the University of North Carolina. Joan continued her pursuit of knowledge with an abundance of postgraduate certifications, including an Education Administration Certification from the University of Pennsylvania.
Joan began her professional career as a teacher at Norview High School in Norfolk, VA. Later, she served as a Civilian Administrator with the United States Department of the Army in Germany for several years organizing entertainment for the military personnel stationed there. After returning to the States, she accepted a job as Patient Services Director of the American Lung Association of Philadelphia and Montgomery County, where she met Win. After their marriage in 1964, Joan moved to the Upper Perkiomen Valley and taught high school briefly in Souderton, PA. In 1974, she began teaching English and Latin at the Upper Perkiomen High School in Pennsburg, PA; also serving as Director of the Adult Evening School for the district from 1983-1988, as well as the Director of Academics. After retiring in 1993, she taught part-time Latin at the Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, 1993-1998, also serving as Social Studies Department Chair.
Throughout her lifetime, Joan held elected offices and various volunteer positions within the Upper Perkiomen Valley Community including Tax Collector for Marlborough Township; School Board Member; and active participant and board member of several civic and volunteer organizations, including the Montgomery County Democratic Club, Marlborough Township Ambulance Corp., Awareness House, Open Link, Upper Perkiomen Library, and Life Long Learning where she often lectured as well.
Joan loved a good party, had an unending reserve of compassion for those less fortunate, and loved to brag about her grandchildren. Her family suspects that she is now in Heaven organizing the Angels and speaking the words “Vini, Vidi, Vici.”
Survivors: Daughters Jennifer Smith of Wyncote, PA; Heather and husband Kevin Maiden of Pennsburg, PA; Melissa and husband Carey Chen of Cincinnati, OH. Stepdaughters Barbara Smith and husband Ron Reel of Arlington, VA and Bonnie Smith and husband James Ingram of Port Charlotte, FL. Joan also leaves seven grandsons: Andrew Smith; Kyle, Nathan, Ryan and Aaron Maiden; and Myles and Mason Chen.
Services: Private Graveside Burial on December 28, 2020. An outdoor Celebration of Life may be considered for late summer, 2021.
Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Open Link (www. theopenlink.org). To offer condolences, please visit her “Book of Memories” at falkfuneralhomes.com.