Jo Anne Vansuch

Jo Anne (Cooper) Vansuch, 92, died on Monday, 18 August 2025 in Dayton, Ohio.

Jo Anne was born November 30, 1932 in Greenwood, Mississippi, daughter of Clayton and Ann (Schwem) Cooper, and grew up in Greenwood with her parents and brother Charles.

She graduated from Greenwood High School in 1950 and Millsaps College in 1954, and completed a Master’s Degree in Education from University of Southern California in 1974. She taught in schools in Fort Walton Beach, FL and Denver, CO before beginning a career in 1957 as educator in the overseas schools for children of US military. She married Robert Vansuch, also an overseas teacher, on November 28, 1959, and they lived in England, Spain, Germany, Morocco, and Bermuda. They retired to Chapel Hill, NC in 1989, living there until moving to Dayton, OH in 2009.

Jo Anne’s love of teaching, travel, food, and friends remained constant throughout her life. She kept up active relationships with friends around the world, and traveled as much as she could. She was a substitute teacher throughout her time overseas, and became a renowned bridge teacher in her 20 years in North Carolina.

She is survived by her children Gregory (Diana) Vansuch, Ellen (Michael) Meehan, David (Seth) Vansuch; grandchildren Maya Wurth, Emma Wright, Luke Vansuch, Ryan Meehan and Kyle Meehan; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Charles and husband Robert.

Memorial Donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children's research Hospital.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 28th at 10:00AM at Emmanuel Catholic Church, (149 Franklin St, Dayton, OH). Visitation will be held at the Church, prior to mass, from 9:00AM to 10:00AM. Interment at Dayton National Cemetery.

To share a memory of Jo Anne or leave a special message for her family, please visit the Guestbook below.