Joan Parkin Sowash, 92, died Wednesday, August 9, 2023.  Born to parents Leonard and Florence Cooman Parkin in Summit, New Jersey, she had been a long time Hampton resident.  Joan was a registered nurse and worked at Riverside Hospital for many years.  She was very active in her community serving with Meals on Wheels, working at the H.E.L.P. Food Pantry, the Friends of the Library Gift Shop, a representative on the Board of Wesley Community Center, worked with ESOL through Catholic Charities, worked rehabilitating homes with the Appalachia Service Project, and was very active with the Emmaus Community.  Joan loved trips to the OBX, was a member of the United Methodist Women, was  a 50 year member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church and a current member of Wesley United Methodist Church.

Preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William H. Sowash, and two daughters, Gail Sowash Langevin and Ann Elizabeth Sowash; survivors include her son, Paul Sowash (Virginia); her daughter, Mary Sowash; her brother, Leonard Parkin, II (Pat Sickler); four grandchildren, Eric Whitehair, Jessica Marchione (Lawrence), Thomas McQuigg (Melissa Emory), and Amanda Puryear (Colton); four great-grandchildren, Colin, Max, Emma and Nora, and one on the way; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and adopted family members.

A funeral service will be conducted at noon on Monday, August 14, 2023 at Wesley United Methodist Church with interment to follow in the Hampton section of Hampton National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2-4 Sunday at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Heifer International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202 or Lifenet Health, 1864 Concert Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23453.