Joan Smith was born in South Bend, Indiana. She was a bit of a Tomboy as a child growing up in a neighborhood of boys. She loved to run, but couldn’t beat one boy!
Joan graduated High School and intended to go into nursing. She met her husband during World War II and got married. Her husband, an engineer, served for four years overseas in Okinawa (for 6 mos) and was there when the war ended.
Joan and husband Frank raised a family of three daughters. When they were young, Joan stayed home to care for them and her husband taught. When the girls were older she worked at a bank, and also worked as a temp employee working for Control Data and corporate attorneys. Because her husband’s work required him to travel overseas to Europe and Asia, Joan liked the temp. work as it allowed her to accompany him on these trips.
Through the years Joan has been involved in a number of volunteer activities. She worked with Hospital Auxiliary groups, the White Cross, Brownies and Girl Scouts, 4-H, along with school and church activities. She was also active in environmental groups and COLA.
Both Joan and her husband Frank joined the League when they moved here. Frank and Al Undem were the only men in the organization at that time. They joined the League because they believed in the mission of the League. Frank wanted people to know that it wasn’t only a women’s organization. Esther Fieldman, former representative, was also a member then and a great inspiration.
Joan says the League has educated her on a variety of issues and continues to educate her. She enjoys the women who are intelligent and unselfish in their desire to make the world a better place.
Her message to young women considering joining the League is, “JUST DO IT!!!! YOU WON’T REGRET IT!!”
