Joan Burch Wilson

A sparkling star, Joan Burch Wilson, fell into the arms of her Savior on February 15, 2006, leaving her sweetheart of 64 years, family and friends with heavy hearts, but filled with love and precious memories. Born on July 18, 1920, in Fancy Farm, Kentucky, to Charles R. Burch and Effie Carrico Burch; she was one of six siblings: William, Gene and Mary Joe, deceased; Mary Edna and Paul, who survive. Blessed with an engaging personality, exceptional intelligence, remarkable intuition and common sense, Joan educated herself through association and action. She associated with faculty and students at the University of Texas, Texas Tech, Central Michigan University and the University of Chicago. She mingled equally well with celebrities, scholars, politicians, professionals and ordinary folk of all nationalities, social status and ethnicities. She innately penetrated and dismissed phony intellectual fashions. She quickly separated the genuine from the balderdash. To Joanie there was no such thing as a stranger. Land her in any city in the world and she would immediately be engaged in conversation, activities, and friendships. She discussed hair dye with Golda Meir on an El Al flight to Israel; she ordered Rock Hudson not to bid on a table she wanted at the MGM Auction in Los Angeles; he obediently obliged. Action was her other educational tool. She was vivacious, full of life, enthusiastic and high-spirited. In addition to vivacity, Joan had an exceptional energy level and an uncanny ability to accelerate her energy output. Most things were done before others were talking about doing. No wonder she became the best wine maker in Saudi Arabia, the best brass rubber in London, or the only woman to go on a tugboat to bring ships into Sydney Harbor. Then there was the spontaneity, the ability to spring into some unexpected, exciting activity like taking off for Kabul, Sydney, Hong Kong or Istanbul. Her adventures carried her to places most can only dream, places such as Petra, the Rubi Kali, Persepolis, and Esfahan. One of her most enduring qualities was her love and devotion to family and friends, where she left nothing undone in the cause of a family member or a friend. She was more concerned about doing for others than doing for herself. Children loved her because they knew she loved them. She was fearless in defending her own, a terror in attacking those who would mistreat or take advantage of others. Joanie had an uncanny ability to get things done. Part of this was because of her ability to win people over to her cause; part of it was her determination, her doggedness, and her unwillingness to let go until the deed was done. Further, she had an independence of mind, a questioning mentality that refused to accept simply because it had always been done that way. Lastly, she had a tolerance for faults and shortcomings of others, which was essential for living with her husband for 64 years. The little, green-eyed girl from Fancy Farm leaves the following: Her husband, Aubrey Linn Wilson; son, Aubrey Linn Wilson, Jr. and wife Judy; daughter, Elizabeth Fomby and husband Howard; grandchildren, Elizabeth Wilson King and husband Mike, Christopher Wilson, Adam Fomby, Jennifer Fomby; sister, Mary Edna Aughe; brother, Paul Burch and wife Lois; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was a faithful Christian and long-time member of University Avenue Church of Christ. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 18th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX, with a memorial service at 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, February 19, 2006, at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the University Avenue Church of Christ, 903 University Avenue, Austin, TX 78705; the Austin Graduate School of Theology, 1909 University Ave., Austin, TX 78705; or the American Cancer Society, 2435-A Ridgepoint Drive, Austin, TX 78754. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78705 (512) 452-8811. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com