Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Joan Louise Titus, 87 years of age, resident of Lyle, Wash. passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Feb. 9, 2024. She was born on March 12, 1936, in Toledo, Wash., to Henry and Clarice McQuigg and was later joined by her sister Loretta and brother Tom.
Joan was raised on Cowlitz Prairie and graduated from Toledo High School as the Valedictorian in 1954. Joan attended Centralia Junior College for two years where she was also a cheerleader and continued her education earning her BA with honors at Western Washington College of Education (now Western Washington University) in 1958.
She met her future husband, Jim Titus, in 1957, when she needed a ride home from Bellingham to Toledo. Jim was a resident of Castle Rock, Wash., also attending WWU, who gave her a ride home and the rest is history. Infatuation turned to love, which led to a marriage of 66 years that started on Dec. 29, 1957. They graduated together from Western in June 1958 and started looking for teaching opportunities within the same school district that would hire them both. Jim and Joan accepted positions from Lyle High School for the fall of 1958, after agreeing on a plan to stay and gain experience in Lyle for two or three years. The plan changed and her entire teaching career lasted for 34 years in Lyle School District until her retirement in 1992.
Joan’s caring and giving personality came through with her tireless work with the Lion’s Club breakfasts and lunches for residents. She donated endless time and funds to other similar projects to benefit the community. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Lyle, especially with Pastor Earl. After it closed, she became a member of the White Salmon United Methodist church. Joan had a passion for flowers and grew numerous roses, daffodils, and rhododendrons and enjoyed the wildflowers of the Columbia River Gorge. Jim and Joan had a winter residence after retirement in Apache Junction, Ariz., where they were “snowbirds” for more than 15 years.
Joan helped raise her two sons, Erik, and Paul, and spent countless hours sitting on hard wooden bleachers in support of them and their families. She loved her sons’ beautiful families and their wives, four granddaughters, and their four great-grandchildren (with two more to join them soon).
She was preceded in death by her infant son Jon Eric Titus, parents Henry and Clarice McQuigg, and two uncles, Nate and Charlie McQuigg. She is survived by her husband Jim; her sister Loretta and Maurice Ray; brother Tom McQuigg, son Erik and Crystal and their children Leah, Sarah, Krista; and son Paul and Mary Jo and their daughter Natalie.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the Hood River Care Center staff for their loving care of Joan in her final weeks.
A celebration of life service will be announced in a later edition. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Lyle Lion’s Club at PO Box 383, Lyle, WA 98635.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, Ore. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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