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COLLEY
Joan Colley, died on October 30, 2021, age 91 years. Born February 25, 1930, in Columbus, Ohio as Phyllis Joan to Myrtle F. (Justice) Thompson and Lawrence K. Thompson, Sr, who preceded her in death along with husband of 57 years Donald Edward “Bud” Colley, her daughter Cathe Sapp, sisters Sue Thompson Wolf, Jeanne Thompson Suplizio and brother William Frank Thompson.
Joan was a loving wife, mother and sister; an artist, author and poet, teacher, trainer, police officer, friend and a world class cook. She is survived by sons Don (Melanie), Philip “Tom” (Karen) and Michael (Marcy) Colley and son-in-law Jeff Sapp (sons Brandon and Josh); grandsons: Ian (Bannon) McBride, Philip (Cristi Vasquez) Colley, Colin (Jen) McBride, Brendan Colley (Erin McMillen), Ryan Colley, Donald E. Colley, III (Lindsay Ippolito), granddaughters Cassandra (John) Smith, Kathryn (Chris) Boldman, Braedan (Doug) Schantz, Meagan (PJ Woodward) Colley; great-granddaughters Morgan Colley, Meredith Boldman, Katelynn Schantz and Nova Colley, great-grandsons Cole Schantz and Evan Schantz, Alex, Andrew and Ally Woodward, Aidan and Tristan McBride. Surviving brother Larry Thompson and sister Mary Parsons, Aunt Shirley Baldwin, many nieces and nephews and a host of cousins too numerous to mention that were important in her life. She loved to travel, especially to Blaine and Cordell Kentucky with her traveling cousin David Ringer and to her Florida home in Port St. Joe.
Joan was proud of many accomplishments but first and foremost was her time in a crime prevention career that spanned over 30 years spent working in the Ohio Department of Corrections and as a Police Officer for the City of Upper Arlington where she initiated the First Safety Town, and retired as Police Service Community Officer; a member of the Governor’s Safety Council, and was a founding member of and named Honorary Life Member of the Ohio Crime Prevention Association; a lecturer and trainer for the FBI, and various Police Academies and college criminal justice programs nationwide. She was an author of a chapter in the National Police Training Manual “Law Enforcement and Older People” and one of the contributors to and editor of “The History of Upper Arlington, Ohio.” She was a recipient of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Award and the London High School Poetry Award, which she also administered for many years. An accomplished singer, who declined a musical scholarship to Wooster College, she participated in the London PTA plays during the 1960’s.
She loved to paint and studied Plein Painting in Cincinnati, Ohio. Some of her paintings have been collected by many of her family, friends and others. She was a founding member of the Blue Ash Ohio Women’s Club, past president of the Coover Society of London, Ohio and a member of the Tuesday Afternoon Club of London. She earned Masters Points for her Bridge playing in Ohio and Florida, where she resided in Port St. Joe and Mexico Beach. She graduated from London High School and received continuing education college credits from The Ohio State University, Franklin University and the University of Louisville for law enforcement studies and attended Gulf Coast Florida Community College.
She was a nearly a 50-year member of the Trinity Episcopal Church of London, Ohio. She wishes to bid all of her family and friends a fond farewell.
The family will receive friends at the EBERLE-FISHER FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, 103 N. Main Street, London from 1-2 PM Friday, November 5, 2021. The family is requiring facemasks been worn by all visitors if they are not fully vaccinated. A graveside service will follow at 2:30 PM in Paint Memorial Cemetery with Father George Glazier officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Joan’s name may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, 10 E. Fourth Street, London, Ohio 43140 or the London Women’s Federation, c/o Liz Lassell, Treasurer, 300 Glade Run Road, London, Ohio 43140.
Online condolences for the family may be sent to www.eberlefisherfuneralhome.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joan (Thompson) Colley, please visit our floral store.
London Federation of Women's Clubs
c/o Liz Lassell, Treasurer 300 Glade Run Road, London OH 43140
Trinity Episcopal Church
10 East Fourth Street, London OH 43140