Joan Marie Valenta

Joan Marie (Harrison) Valenta, 88, passed away peacefully at home on November 16th, attended by her loving husband and children. Viewing will be Wednesday, November 19, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. A Rosary will be held at 6:00 pm, Thursday, November 19, 2025, at Trout Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 am Friday, November 21, 2025, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Those unable to attend the Funeral Ceremony, may attend virtually on the Trout Funeral Home website, www.troutfuneralhome.com and click on the live-stream or toolbar icon on the top right corner after 9:45 AM. Burial will immediately follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK, 74601.
Joan was born June 19, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Leo and Eleanor Harrison. Joan's high school sweetheart, Bill Valenta, quickly became the love of her life, and they were married on Flag Day June 14, 1958. They immediately started their family, having four children, Bill Jr. (Billy) in 1959, Suzie in 1961, Allan in 1962, and Karen in 1963. The stories from this era were captivating - Bill arriving home with the news of another transfer, Joan taping shut the drawers of their mobile home, and the couple driving off with their four young children, 20 plus times!
Joan loved telling stories from her living room chair, recalling memories of her life and the many adventures she had with Bill. However, out of all the adventures, Joan's special needs son Billy was her greatest treasure. From beginning to end she made sure his life was full of love and purpose. This led Joan to becoming the co-founder and manager of Ponca City's Caboose Thrift Shop. What started with two women in a red train caboose, selling odds and ends, quickly escalated to a place of business, allowing others like Billy a place to work. Joan passed on the torch, but spoke often about how proud she was of this effort and still today it is a thriving local downtown business thanks to Joan's vision and commitment to her son.
Joan was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. She was also a member of St. Francis Guild, loved her Bridge Club, cross stitching, as well as her weekend activities with Bill and Billy. Every Christmas she baked batches of various special cookies for the season. Her grandchildren are thankful she kept a cookie can full of chocolate chip cookies the rest of the year. Aside from these actives Joan's favorite time was family time. On Sunday evenings, the entire family, including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would get together and enjoy a game of racehorse rummy or Rummikube, happy hour, and their Sunday dinner together. For the whole family, this was non-negotiable and has been a tradition that has lasted over 40 years each Sunday night.
"Gerb" as she is lovingly known to her Ponca family, loved being a grandma, but lit up even more as a great-grandmother. When she passed, she had eight great-grandchildren with two more on the way. But the most significant thing in her life was Bill. Joan loved being Mrs. William Valenta and never wanted to be far from her husband's side, as they were truly one body. Their love story was impressive, lasting an incredible 67 years together. They are a testament to what it means to be married in sickness and in health, and till death do us part as they were inseparable even to the end.
Joan is survived by: her loving husband, Bill; children, William Theodore Valenta Jr. (Billy), of Ponca City, Suzie and husband, Chuck Greenwood, of Ponca City, Allan and wife, Denise Valenta, of Humble, TX, Karen and husband, John Stepchinsky, of Spring, TX; grandchildren, Ashlee and husband, Tyler Mayse, of Ponca City, Christopher and wife, Kandas Greenwood, of Ponca City, Jessica and husband, Ryan Wirth, of Humble, TX, Craig and wife, Colleen Valenta, of Houston, TX, John Jr. and wife, Natalie Stepchinsky, of Spring, TX, and Gregory and wife, Olivia Stepchinsky, of Katy, TX; great-grandchildren, Landon, Lane and Madelynn Mayse, Jett Greenwood, Eleanor and Audrey Wirth, Elizabeth Stepchinsky, and Charlotte Stepchinsky. Joan is also survived by her two younger brothers, John and wife, Anne Harrison, and James (Jim) Harrison, along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Eleanor Harrison; her sister, Judy and husband, Ricard Cocci.
Through all the years of devotion to family, it has evident that Joan had a special love for babies and that babies love her. Now in heaven she can hug and be hugged by the many babies that were deprived of that love on earth.
Donations may be made to the Opportunity Center, 3007 N. Union St, Ponca City, OK, 74601, Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview Ave #103, Ponca City, OK 74601, or Living Hope Pregnancy Center, 425 Fairview Ave Ste 3, Ponca City, OK 74601.