Joan Battin Weir

Joan Battin Weir, “Grandma Joanie”, passed peacefully into God’s hands surrounded by loved ones at home in Delray Beach on August 11th, 2023.  Joan was the eldest daughter of Harry E. Battin, Jr. and Vernice Wilson and was born on October 23, 1933 in Albany, New York.  Phyllis Bovingdon Battin became her loving mother when she was 5 after Vernice passed away.  Some of Joan’s fondest memories during her childhood were visiting with her favorite Aunt Weezie on the farm in Delmar, NY and sledding on the snow at their home in Loudonville Heights.  She attended St. Agnes School for Girls in Albany, where she got the nickname “Joanie Bonie”, and graduated from Wells College in 1955 where she enjoyed playing field hockey.  She spent her Junior Year at University of the Southwest, in Exeter, England where she also played field hockey on the beaches of Wales.  Joan then received a Master of Education Degree from Harvard University in 1956.  She also received a degree in the Education of Exceptional Children from FAU in 1970.  Joan was an admired educator who was fondly remembered by many a former student. To her children and grandchildren, she was a life-long teacher known for often pulling off the side of the road to show “the kids” something interesting.

Following her graduate degree, Joan moved to Winnetka, Illinois, to teach 2nd grade at an innovative new school, the Crow Island Elementary School.  During college, Joan and her family vacationed in Delray Beach, FL.  In 1954, while playing volleyball at the beach, one local young man, Mahlon Slane Weir, fell at her feet and became the love of her life.  Joan and Mahlon were married August 3rd, 1957.  They spent their honeymoon at Lake Burton, Georgia, where the family continues to gather.  Joan moved to Delray and became a 2nd grade teacher at Plumosa Elementary School.    

Joan and Mahlon first lived on NE 17th Street near Plumosa Elementary School before moving behind Mahlon’s business Weir Auto Electric where she served as an administrator for the company. She also worked with Mahlon’s mother, Nana Grace, in real estate for several years. They then moved to the current “Banker’s Row” on 1st Avenue.  Their Halloween trick or treat set-up there was famous, with Joan as the witch, Mahlon, then John Mahlon, as the “corpse” who grabbed children’s arms when they leaned over to retrieve candy from inside the coffin, water jets shooting out of the coffin, and an electrified dollar coin which shocked teenagers when they tried to pocket it. They visited Mahlon’s mother often at Jap Rocks on the beach in south Delray where they held many a children's birthday party and lived briefly.  In 1975 they built their dream home on Skyline Drive, complete with windmills, an electric car, a hangar filled with Mahlon’s airplanes and toys and a pulley ride across the pond.   

To please Mahlon, Joan earned her pilot’s license in their PA-12 in 1974 and her glider’s license in 1975.  While taking lessons to get her tow-pilot’s license, she was flying back to Palm Beach when her throttle stuck, and Joan had to cut her engine and glide to a landing.  They closed the entire Palm Beach airport for her to allow her plenty of room to land.  Once she was safely on the ground and met by Mahlon, he then convinced her to “get back on that horse/plane” and fly home to Antiquers Aerodrome in Delray.   Another time she flew in the PA-12 to pick her brother Harry up from the airport in Palm Beach to then fly him down to Delray.  He has a fond memory of the control tower saying “hi, Joanie” when she radioed in for take-off instructions.

Joan and Mahlon hosted numerous parties, including annual Christmas Carol sings and Jubileer “Olympics” and “Old-time Movie” filming parties.  They were active in the soaring community, and traveled west many summers where Mahlon competed and Joan was his Chief Crew.  Joan loved her second home at Lake Burton, especially spending time with her children and grandchildren and hosting two wonderful “Battin Family Reunions.”  Joan and Mahlon spent twenty-three happy years together, until Mahlon passed away in 1980.  She was the strength and guide for us all from that time forward.

Joan was defined as much by her community involvement as she was by her focus on family.  She was a Cub Scout and Brownie leader, Scout Council Board Member, Sunday School teacher at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (where she served as the school’s first director along with a colleague,) Trinity Lutheran PA President and ferried many an Atlantic High School sport team in her motorhome.  Her adopted hometown of Delray Beach benefited from her many contributions.  She was President and founding member (along with Mahlon) of the Delray Beach Historical Society, a founding member of the Morikami Museum, a Board Member of the Boca Delray Music Society and Chamber of Commerce as well as Chairperson for The Delray Beach 75th Diamond Jubilee Celebration.  Joan also helped lay the groundwork for Delray’s designation as one of “America’s Best Small Cities” by coordinating the USA “Main Street” application process in 1985.  She was also President of the Seacrest Association of University Women and she and Mahlon were founding members of Jubileers.

Joan continued to be active and adventurous throughout her long and remarkable life.  She wanted her house to be filled with activity and laughter so she hosted international youth tennis players from Switzerland, Yugoslavia and Greece as well as a group of Japanese Taiko drummers from Morikami Museum.  Over the years she invited friends to stay with her for extended periods during their housing transitions.  She met Duane Johnston in 1989 and together they burnt the roads on his motorcycle, traveling to air and motorcycle shows across the Midwest.  Joan also enjoyed traveling with friends, her children and her Aunt Weezie and visited 49 of the 50 states, the Caribbean and many European countries.  Despite her lack of love for the water, Joan learned to slalom water ski in her 50s at Lake Burton and continued to ski until her 70s.

Her grandchildren fondly remember how she loved to “get on their level” and play “kitty” or play in the clay mud at Lake Burton.  There were special long trips to Delray and internationally to visit and be with Grandma Joanie and also many days of one-on-one time with her as she shuttled them to tennis lessons and other various activities.  Whether in Delray, North Carolina or New York, she always loved being involved in and enthusiastically supporting them in their athletic competitions as well as theatrical and music programs.  Singing with her around the player piano was another of their favorite cherished memories.  And of course, they all remember how she spoiled them with ice-cream from
Doc’s!

Joan was loved by all for her warmth, loving personality, kindness, positivity, joy, unlimited love, and continued interest in everyone around her.  Joan was someone who, every minute of every day, opened her infinite heart to others with unbridled joy.  She truly recognized each person’s unique gifts and personality and connected with them instantly.  She saw, nurtured and cherished the best in every person she encountered.

Joan was our guiding light and champion of great causes who above all else leaves a legacy of love – of family, of friends, of God, of Delray. We know she is in Heaven with others who love her as much as we do.

Joan was preceded in death by her mothers Vernice Wilson Battin, Phyllis Bovingdon Battin, her father Harry E. Battin, Jr. and brothers Peter Callanan Battin and John Thomas Battin.  Joan is survived by her three children, John Mahlon Weir (Iris Sunshine) of High Point, NC, Louise Weir Glover (John) of Delray Beach and Melinda Grace Weir (Erik Sorensen) of New York City and also by her brother, Harry Bovingdon Battin.  She is also survived by her seven grandchildren: Matthew Weir, Peter Weir, Caroline Weir, Mahlon Sorensen, Katharine Sorensen, Anna Sorensen and Slane Glover who loved her dearly.

A memorial service for Joan Weir will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 188 South Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, October 20, 2023 at 3:00 pm followed by a Celebration of Life reception at the Delray Beach Historical Society at 4:00 pm.  Per Joan’s wishes, the family would like to encourage guests to wear white to the service and Celebration of Life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Paul’s Day School, 188 S. Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33444, Click Here to Donate or Delray Beach Historical Society, 3 N.E. 1st Street, Delray Beach, FL 33444, Click Here to Donate