In the early morning of June 3, 2020, Joan W. Barlow died peacefully after a long and eventful life. Born in London, England in October 1925 to parents George and Emily Henrietta "Hettie" Waters, Joan was raised in the beautiful south coast seaside town of Bournemouth. During World War II, she was introduced to Henry "Hank" Gordner, an American officer stationed in Bournemouth, and after the war ended and she turned 21, they were married and Joan began the life of an Army wife.

Always very interested in arts, cultures and travel, Joan and her family enjoyed the adventures of living in Japan, Ethiopia and Germany, along with the opportunities to visit several other foreign countries and most of the United States. Frequent visits back to England ensured close ties were maintained across "the pond" and across generations, and they continue to this day.

After Hank's retirement from the US Army, Joan put her interests to work by training to become an historical interpreter and tour escort for Colonial Williamsburg. With her wit and knowledge, and her ever-present English accent, she created a very realistic picture dressed in Colonial gowns and lace caps as she guided visitors through the Governor's Palace and Capital; and she set a good pace as she led groups through the town, always making sure the backs of her outfits were attractive for the people following her.

Joan was a talented artist in her own right. She sewed beautifully and created one-of-a-kind outfits and gowns for herself, her daughters and her grandchildren. She turned standard Army quarters into elegantly comfortable homes, and after taking painting lessons from famed local artist Jack Clifton —Joan's dear friend until his death I990 — many of her works grace the homes of family and friends.

In 1995, Joan married Alton Murray Barlow and continued her passion for travel with him. They loved ocean and river cruising and went on several — sailing the Mediterranean, Aegean and Caribbean Seas; to Scandinavia and Russia; along the Danube and Rhine Rivers; to Hawaii and to Alaska.

Joan was predeceased by her first husband Hank, her second husband Murray, her parents, her youngest sister Zena Keyworth and Zena's husband Eric. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Lynda Gordner Webb and Jan Gordner Miller, and her son David Henry Gordner (Sheila); Murray's daughters Peggy Happ (David) and Nancy Hannify, and son Jeff Barlow; seven grandchildren — Leah Ohman (Michael), Adam Webb (Katie), Justin Webb (Ginny), Claire Bellecci, Nathan Miller (Michelle), Becky Lyng (Mike), and Sarah Gordner; and nine great-grandchildren — Ava and Angelo Bellecci, Baya and Noah Miller, Stella Webb, Parker and Lawson Webb, and Emma and Zoey Lyng. Joan is also survived by her sister Doris Hutchings and brother Denis Waters (Shamim) and numerous nieces and nephews in England and Europe.  To all of us, she is best-known and loved as "Mum", "Grammie" and "Auntie Joan".