Joan Teresa Defenbaugh

Joan Teresa (Starbuck) Defenbaugh passed away peacefully Monday August 29th at 5:26 pm, surrounded by family. She was born on December 25th, 1959 in Columbus, Ohio where she grew up and also raised her own family. She graduated from North High School in 1977.

Joan is preceded in death by Ronald Starbuck (father), Margaret Starbuck (stepmother) and Charles Platt (stepfather). Survived by mother, Loretta Platt; husband, Jerry Defenbaugh; children, Casey and Jacob (Eileen); siblings, David (Barbara), Ann (Dennis), Guy (Denise), Clifford (Andrea); grandchildren, Ellianna, Nathanial, Quentin, Zoey, Raya; and nieces/nephews, Joan Lowry, Nicholas Starbuck, Aleksandr Brown, Anna Brown, Creighton Starbuck, Elizabeth Starbuck, Jonah Starbuck, Kaitlyn Lowry and Collin Lowry.

She met her soulmate Jerry in her early twenty’s and they were happily married for over 40 years.

She was a real estate agent for over 18 years and was a realtor at Keller Williams for 14 of those years.

Joan was an avid gardener with a lifelong passion for learning. She loved spending time outside with nature and enjoyed reading. Her interest in holistic healing grew tremendously over the past few years. She truly believed that “food is medicine”.

She also had a love for animals, that she showed through her pets. Her cat Elliott will miss her dearly!

Joan was passionate about being a grandmother; she loved spending any time with her grandchildren and starting traditions like baking Christmas cookies and doing arts/craft projects.

Joan will be missed dearly by all that were lucky enough to cross her path.

In lieu of a memorial service, Joan wished for all to celebrate her life in a way that is meaningful to them.