Wilson College

Joan arrived at Wilson in September of 1955. Though she would not admit it to her parents, she was quite homesick and very intimidated by the older students. She frequently complained that her mailbox was empty and she sure would like someone to send some chocolate chip cookies.

But she soon found her footing. She enjoyed singing in the choir and though she constantly worried about her grades. Joan was a psychology major and a mathematics minor.

Her scrapbook is filled with mementos of dances, plays and choir concerts.

And occasional treasures like this acknowledgement of a letter she sent to Prince Philip during his World Tour in 1957.

In one letter to her dad, she asks for money for the class ring and also acknowledges her gratitude for her parents support of her education.

During her senior year, she began to think about what she would do after college. She was quite sure that neither teaching nor nursing was in the cards for her, but a visit from a Navy recruiter seriously piqued her interest. 

She and classmate Caroline Earnshaw affectionately known as Rocky told their parents of their plans to join and attend Officer Candidate School. Joan’s parents were immediately in favor. Rocky’s parents were horrified.