Obituaries

Joanne Gretchen (Wilburn) Crytzer, 82, of West Mahoning Township (Smicksburg), Indiana County, died early Thursday morning, August 3, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. She passed into Heaven while at home in the presence of her family.

Joanne was born on October 17, 1940, in Hawthorn, Clarion County, to the late Malvin J. and Bertha L. (Keller) Martz. She lived her teenage years with her sister and brother-in-law, Kathleen O., and Charles S. Kirkpatrick in their home along 839, Dayton, Pa.

Joanne was raised since birth in the Jehovah Witness Christian faith by her mother.

Following her graduation from Dayton High School in 1959, Joanne first worked as an administrative assistant with the Pennsylvania Government in Harrisburg. After a short period, she passed the United States Government Civil Service exam and subsequently accepted a civilian position with the Department of the Air Force Aerospace programs, at the Pentagon where she worked for 8 years. In 1968, Joanne took a career transfer from the Pentagon to the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC., where she served as a secretary/stenographer for the Director of the Training Division before finally retiring on December 31, 1987.

Joanne loved to paint. She painted landscape scenes and animals, especially kitty cats. Since moving back to her hometown area, Joanne adopted generations of stray kitty cats starting with “Bubba Lou” in 1989 and ending with her beloved “Jada” in 2022. She also loved flowers. The numerous flower beds surrounding her home is a testament to that.

She is survived by her husband, Ronald E. Crytzer of Smicksburg, one daughter, Mischelle A. Wilburn of Ocala, Florida, one son, Michael A. Wilburn and his wife, Liesa of Lake Anna, Virginia, three step daughters, Julie E. (David) Matthews of Midlothian, Virginia, Cathleen E. (Russell) Pleasants of Henrico, Virginia, and Susan L. (Joseph) Marchant of Manassas, Virginia, one granddaughter, Kenessa R. Campbell of Cleveland, Ohio, four step grandchildren, Jessie R. (Zack) Relford of Mechanicsville , Virginia, Adam, Brett, and Shane Marchant of Manassas, Virginia, three great grandchildren, Isaac Cooper, Travis Cooper, and Kylie Rose Lee Gibson, all of Cleveland, Ohio, and two brothers, Joseph E. (Kathleen) Martz of Kittanning and Raymond M. (Doris) Martz of Hawthorn.

In addition to her parents, Joanne was preceded in death by six brothers, Melvin, Franklin, Morris, Charles, Robert, and an infant, and four sisters, Kathleen O. Kirkpatrick, Geraldine Silverman, Betty Jane Martz, and Barbara K. Martz.

At Joanne’s request, services will be private.

Interment will be in the Coolspring Cemetery, Jefferson County.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joanne’s name to your favorite charity.

Arrangements are being handled by the Alcorn Funeral Home in Hawthorn.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at alcornfuneralhome.com.