MARTHA JOAN OLIVER's Obituary
On December 27th (2023), God’s Heavenly Kingdom added a very special lady. Joan Oliver, wife of Dave Oliver, passed at their home in Miami Lakes, where they have been residents for several decades. Joan was born March 2nd, 1929 in Muncie (IN) to Orville and Madge Glass (both deceased). She is also predeceased by her sister Marilyn Kohls (& her husband Jim) in Kokomo (IN). Joan married Don Hewetson in Kokomo in 1946. This union produced two remarkable sons---Gary (wife Carol) Hewetson—a retired Attorney in Seminole (FL) and Jack (wife Sheri) Hewetson---a retired Captain for American Airlines in Ponte Vedra (FL). Raising these two sons was her proudest life achievement. Joan is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, grand children and great grandchildren.
In 1946, Joan graduated from Kokomo High School where she excelled in her classes. She worked at Delco Radio in Kokomo, at Southern Bell (in Miami) and as Secretary to the Miami Herald Classified Manager (where she met her husband Dave).. As a youngster, Joan and her sister Marilyn frequently performed throughout Central Indiana as a Tap Dancing Team. In 1968, she appeared as a prominent extra in two Tony Rome movies with Frank Sinatra, Jill St. John and Raquel Welch. These two movies were filmed in Miami. Joan was also a friend of actor Phil Harris (a fellow Hoosier). Joan was a founding member (and first secretary) of the Miami Lakes Women’s Golf Association. She was a long time duplicate bridge tournament player with a rank of Junior Master. Joan was an avid reader, especially of biographies & history---and a viewer of Fox News and local sports teams. At a University of Miami football sports award banquet, she sat next to Dwayne Johnson AND found out that ‘The Rock” was going to go into Pro Wrestling long before the media knew about it. On her maternal side, Joan traced her ancestors back to two coming over on the Mayflower. Joan will be interred at Greenlawn Cemetery in Versailles (OH) after a service at Trinity Lutheran Church. At a time to be determined, a Celebration of Life will be held at the Miami Lakes United Methodist Church. Joan will be greatly missed by her family and friends-----including her little Teddy Bear dog Missy. Fortunately they are all left with many fond memories of her.
What’s your fondest memory of MARTHA?
What’s a lesson you learned from MARTHA?
Share a story where MARTHA's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with MARTHA you’ll never forget.
How did MARTHA make you smile?