Joanna Pappandreau Kouns

Asheville – Joanna Pappandreau Kouns, 88, of Westridge Drive, died peacefully Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Joanna was born on September 15, 1919 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She was one of over ten children to the late John Pappandreou and the late Katherine Doumas Sphicopolas who immigrated to America in 1911 from Trikala, Greece through Ellis Island, New York. Joanna graduated from Mary Washington College in 1940 with a BS degree in Business Administration and first taught high school in Elkins, Virginia. During the war years Joanna worked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. She then transferred to the Pentagon to work with the Chief of Naval Operations where she met her future husband, Willliam “Bill” C. Kouns, who was a lieutenant in the Navy. Joanna was also an active volunteer in the USO in Portsmouth. One of Joanna’s interests was the Episcopal Church. She was involved with her hometown church of St. George’s in Fredericksburg and churches in Washington, D.C. For 37 years her home was in Melrose Park, Illinois, where she and Bill became charter members to Franklin Park’s St. Patrick’s Church. Here Joanna taught Sunday School for 18 years, serving on the Bishop’s Committee, Altar Guild, and Lay Ministry. Joanna loved children. This was reflected in her involvement as Girl Scout leader, corresponding and publicity chairman for Franklin Park PTA, as well as serving on the staff of the National Camp Outdoors Educational Association in Port Jervis, NJ, and the Leisure, Craft and Counseling Camp in Illinois. After Joanna’s three children left home for college, she returned to the business world for eight years working for the Credit Manager of Binks Manufacturing Company in Franklin Park. When Joanna and her husband retired in Asheville she became a very active member of The Cathedral of All Souls Episcopal Church. Her contributions included: membership in The Order of the Daughters of the King, the Altar Guild, Liturgical Ministry, Women at the Inn Program, Facilitator of the Prayer Chain, and Docent service. She also supported Asheville’s Greek Orthodox Holy Trinity Church and was secretary and publicity chairperson of AARP, Skyland, North Carolina Chapter. Joanna, a.k.a., the “Scotcheroo Lady,” shared her great cooking and generosity with homemade sweets to all those she met throughout her life. She is survived by her two sons, John and his wife, Suzanne, of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, William and his wife Vivien, of Berlin, Germany; a daughter, Marjorie of New York City, a grandson Andrew, a brother, “Cotchy” Pappandreou of Fredericksburg and a sister, Mary, and her husband, Dr. James A. Davis, Jr. of Birmingham, Ala. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, December 2nd at The Cathedral of All Souls in Asheville, with the Very Rev. Todd Donatelli and the Rev. Brian Cole officiating. A reception will follow after the service in the Parish Hall. Family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to The Cathedral of All Souls Youth Programs.