Joanna Dyas Smith (Class of '65) lost her battle with cancer last night at 6:00 pm.
Her husband and family can be contacted at:
E. C. ("Butch") Smith
114 Dawana Lane
Georgetown, TX 78628
Email: b.jsmith@cox.net
Joanna passed away on July 25, 2006 at home with her family after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. She is survived by her mother, Henrietta B. Dyas of Mobile, Alabama, her husband of almost 35 years, Butch of Georgetown, her daughter, Captain Melissa Stone and her husband Major Adam Stone of San Angelo, Texas, her daughter Dr. Jody Smith and her fiancé John Boydston of Denver, Colorado, a sister, Judi Dyas Wells of Mobile, Alabama, and three nephews. She is also survived by her special best friend and sister-in-law, Judie Patterson of Georgetown, Texas. The family appreciates Judie’s many years of compassionate care and friendship.
Joanna was born on March 29, 1947 in Newport News, Virginia to Brigadier General and Mrs John R. Dyas. Joanna was a graduate of Randolph AFB High School, Incarnate Word College and also received her Administrator’s Certificate and a Master’s in Special Education from Southwest Texas State University. She also attended colleges at the American College in Paris, France; Auburn University, Texas University, and Huntingdon College. Joanna was an Air Force “Brat” and had the opportunity to live overseas in Peru, Germany and France.
She met her husband, Butch Smith at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas where they were married in September, 1970. They were stationed overseas in Germany, and stateside in Mississippi, Alabama, Colorado, Nebraska, Washington D.C., Maryland and Texas where they made many life long friends. She was extremely proud of being an Air Force Brat and Air Force wife.
Joanna loved being a Special Education teacher and director and working with these children and young adults. She was a very compassionate person. Compassionate about her special kids and compassionate about her family and friends.
She absolutely adored her two daughters.
Joanna was preceded in death by her brother, John Robert Dyas Jr. and her father, Brigadier General John Robert Dyas.
Burial will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio at 2:00 pm on Friday, July 28. The family will have two memorial services. The first will be at Florence High School Commons at 4:00 pm, Sunday, July 30 in Florence, Texas. A second memorial service will be held at the Little Flower Catholic Church in Mobile, Alabama at 10:00 am on Tuesday, August 1.
In lieu of flowers Joanna requested that donations be made to the Florence ISD for Special Education, P.O. Box 489, Florence, TX 76527 or to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation by visiting www.komen.org.
The family would like to offer a very special thanks to all of the staff at Lone Star Oncology who have cared for Joanna on and off since 1996. The family sincerely appreciates each and every one of them. The family also appreciates the professional services of Hospice of Austin.
