Joan (Rosenbalm) Roeder

Joan was a New Year’s baby, born January 1, 1940, in Bristol, TN, to Estelle (“Roxie”) and Benjamin Rosenbalm. Spending many of her formative years on the Appalachian State University dairy farm that her father managed in Boone, NC, Joan developed a love of nature and a deep respect for the farming profession.

She attended Appalachian State University and graduated cum laude in three quick years, with a double major in physics and chemistry. Joan went on to teach high school in Marion, NC, and also taught at Lees-McRae college before moving with her parents and siblings to Charlotte, NC, where she challenged gender employment barriers to work successfully as a technician at Celanese Corporation of America.

The next chapters of Joan’s life were filled with family, adventure, and art. Toledo, OH, became home base for the family of five, where she not only managed a busy household, but found time to volunteer for the Jimmy Carter presidential campaign and for a Laotian refugee resettlement organization. And as the career of husband Mike Roeder took off, so did the family — to exotic locations including Valencia, Venezuela; Tierra Colorada; and Mexico City, the place whose people and culture captivated Joan forever. It was also during this time that she started quilting, a hobby that became a passion and source of joy, pride, and friendship. We would like to extend our gratitude for the loving community provided by the Charlotte Quilter’s Guild. Like everything Joan did, she excelled and became an award-winning quilter, recognized at multiple competitive levels. But even quilting could take a back seat during baseball season – the only sport Joan ever followed. She was a diehard Atlanta Braves fan and attended a Braves game with her brother, Bob, and nephew Matthew, in 2004.

Joan was a natural intellectual. A voracious reader, she studied the history and movements of human societies and their cultures — the more obscure, the better. The only fiction she was ever known to read was Victorian bestselling author Anthony Trollope, whose entire 47-novel collection she had read multiple times.

One of Joan’s best qualities was that she believed in the inherent goodness of people, and that every person has the right to be exactly who they are, without judgment.

She is survived by her husband Mike Roeder of 58 years and three children, twins Kevin Roeder (Linda Erbland) of Toledo, OH and Sue Livingston (Lary) of Charlotte, NC; and Kelly LeVoyer (Scott) of Raleigh, NC. She also leaves behind three beloved grandchildren, Ben Livingston (Ashley), Ava LeVoyer and Henry LeVoyer; and three great-grandchildren, Savannah, Nick and Hazel Livingston. Joan is also survived by siblings Bob Rosenbalm (Dee) and Sharon Floyd (Terry). She is preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Estelle “Roxie” Rosenbalm, and her brother Richard Rosenbalm.

A private family celebration of Joan’s life will be held at a later date. The family would like to extend special appreciation to Brighton Gardens of Charlotte and Charlotte Hospice for their excellent care. For those wishing to send memorial gifts, please consider:

Hospice and Palliative Care – Charlotte Region (https://www.hpccr.org)

or, or the Charlotte Quilters Guild at

https://charlottequiltersguild.org/. Please note that as the CQG is conducting some changes to their web site, if visitors see interruption to service, donations can be made in Joan's name via their PayPal link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CharlotteQG. Please include your name and "Donation in Memory of Joan Roeder" in the Notes field. As a third option, you can make a donation by mailing a personal check made out to Charlotte Quilters' Guild to this address:

Charlotte Quilters’ Guild

PO Box 11044

Charlotte, NC 28220

If sending a check, please include "Donation in Memory of Joan Roeder" on the Memo line. The Charlotte Quilter's Guild is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com for the Roeder family.