Joan Crockford Van Spyker is now at home with The Lord and Savior. Her loving husband Bernie was at her side in her long illness.
She was born on August 3, 1925 in Winchester, England. She met “GI Joe”, Joseph Solerno there and were married in England, 10 days before “D Day”, where he fought and was wounded. After the war she moved to the USA to Ozone Park, New York, Huntington, Long Island, and finally to Franklin, New Hampshire. They purchased a large lodge, plus several cottages on Webster Lake. She and Joe were happily married for 33 years, until a tree cutting accident ended his life.
They had two daughters, Jane & Judy, who Joan loved to dress up. Joan then moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts to be with her daughter Jane. Then she met a Christian widower, Bernard Van Spyker, a retired architect from Whitinsville, Massachusetts. He was involved in disaster relief work in several states. After their marriage Joan joined in the work as a social worker to the victims. They also worked on the design for a school for the handicapped in Rolling Fork, Mississippi; several buildings for Youth Challenge, Bible Institute in Sunbury, Pennsylvania and a new school building for our local Whitinsville Christian School. Another project took much planning, the sign-up and printing a booklet for a two nation, 320 Home Christian Bed and Breakfast. The booklet had available homes in the 40 states and four Canadian Provinces. We greatly enjoyed staying in several of these homes in our travels. On all the projects she found ways to be a real servant to so many folks, always ready to give her testimony. Somehow, in between all this, we began and taught a Married Couple’s Class for 13 years using the book “His Needs/Her Needs” graduating nearly 400 students. She and her husband have been members of First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks for over 20 years. Joan sang in the choir, the Senior 60’s group and as a volunteer worker.
Besides her husband, survivors include 2 sisters: Ella Ainsworth and Betty Simmance, 2 brothers: Leonard Crockford and Steven Crockford, all of England; 2 daughters:Jane Forrestall of Boston, MA and Judy Grant of Las Vegas, 4 grandchildren: Adam Machado of Cape Cod, Jason Forrestall of Boca Raton, Eric Sedgley and Aaron Sedgley both of Tilton, NH; a number of great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild-the 5th generation; step-grandchildren: Glen Van Spyker and his wife, Liz Gunn, Jeanne Van Spyker-Batchelder and her husband, Michael, 3 grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
She faithfully served Jesus Christ with many talents including a beautiful voice singing in many churches and weddings in several states. Her favorite Bible verse was “I will bless The Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be on my heart, my soul shall make me glad. Oh magnify The Lord”
Joan, enjoy your reward in Heaven!
Just two years ago I met Joan. She was my downstairs neighbor and she welcomed me to the Florida Condo. We had many enjoyable conversations and found that we had a lot in common. My grandparents were from Scotland and Ireland and I had many ancestors from England. I felt like I had met a family member when I met Joan. Since I sold Mary Kay cosmetics, Joan was pleased so know that a Mary Kay person lived right upstairs. She used to say “if Mary Kay Cosmetics is good for the Queen of England it’s good enough for me!” I will miss Joan, but I know I will see her once again in Heaven.
My sympathy. Joan is my sister in law and will be remembered and loved. Many wonderful memories of Joan and Bernie when they summered in Massachusettes. She will be remembered as a dear friend to my husband, George, and myself. George passed away five years ago and Joan was a very dear support system through my grief.
You are loved and missed…