JOAN FLETCHER

FLETCHER, Joan Vinaroff, 82, widow of Albert Byrne Fletcher Jr., died October 24, 2012. Mrs. Fletcher was born on September 4, 1930, the only child of Reverend and Mrs. G. E. Vinaroff of Russell, Kan. She lived and attended schools there until her graduation from high school. From 1948 to 1951, she was enrolled in Washburn University of Topeka, Kan., where she was a member of the Washburn Symphonette and the Topeka Civic Symphony as well as editor of the university newspaper and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, Nonoso Honorary Sorority and Who's Who among college students. It was while attending Washburn that she met her future husband and they eventually married August 12, 1951. To this union were born three children, Katherine Fletcher Padgett, who predeceased her in 1992, Andrew Byrne Fletcher, who lives in Wichita, Kan., with his wife, Diane, and Margaret Fletcher Belliel, who lives in Wilmette, Illinois, with her husband, Dan. The family made Junction City, Kan., their home where her husband practiced law and was a District Judge. Several years after their marriage, Mrs. Fletcher returned to Kansas State University to complete her college degree. She then taught high school English for 13 years. In 1975, the family moved to Alexandria, Va., where her husband received an appointment by President Ford as a Federal Judge. Upon her husband's retirement in 1985, they made the Northern Neck their home. Mrs. Fletcher was a member of Grace Episcopal Church where she was a member of the Altar Guild. She also volunteered at the Lancaster Library for many years and was a charter member of the Northern Neck Orchestra. She was a member of BH Chapter of PEO. Mrs. Fletcher also leaves six grandchildren, Fletcher G. Padgett (Carter) of Richmond, Va., Abigail and Alex Fletcher of Wichita, Kan., and Sam, Will and Tommy Belliel of Wilmette, Illinois. Interment will be held at Historic Christ Church Burying Ground, Irvington, in a private service. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at Grace Episcopal Church, Kilmarnock. A memorial has been established in her honor for the Grace Episcopal Church Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1059, Kilmarnock, Va. 22482. "Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you." Psalm 116:7


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.