Joan Hippchen passed away on March 21, 2021, just 12 days shy of her 88 ^th birthday.  She is survived by her husband Ed, to whom she was married for 65 years.  Joan was born in Richmond, VA, and grew up in Charleston, SC, where her signature red hair made her a stand-out beauty. She was a high-school basketball star, captain of her team for two years, and worked in her parents' café as a teen. After meeting at a mutual friend's wedding, she began dating a dashing younger (by 2 weeks) man in military uniform.  She and Ed married in 1956, and lived with their growing family in Puerto Rico and Sarasota, FL, before moving in 1970 to Memphis, TN.  In addition to managing the home and school life for her family, Joan was an avid and exceptionally skilled bridge player, loved Jesus and being involved with her church, and worked as an assistant in several companies, such as Holiday Inns, Inc.  Joan was a member of the DAR and traced her maternal lineage to James Chilton, a signer of the Mayflower Compact. Her broad smile and mischievous laugh made her fun to be around, and she enjoyed many close friendships throughout her lifetime.  In her later years in an assisted living facility, Joan's favorite jokes and successes at Bingo were legendary. Her final months were spent living in her daughter Vicky's home, where family could visit with her and Dad and play spirited games of Yahtzee and Uno.   Joan and Ed raised four children, and were blessed with 8 grandchildren, who in turn blessed them with 9 great-grandchildren:  Edward Hippchen Jr. (aka Skip), his wife Rande, their sons Jimmy (wife Kristin, daughter Amelia) and Steven;  Ken Hippchen, his wife Janice and step-son Jacob Neal; Cathi Johnson, her husband Paul, her daughters Ashley (1984-2001) and Erin Blythe, as well as beloved dog Martini; and Vicky Ham, her husband Mark, and their daughters Aubrey Doyle (husband Dustin, children Dawson, Lana, Clark, Della), Brittney Williams (husband Stephen, daughter Hadassah), Cayla Ham, and Danielle Quinn (husband Luke, children Liam, Nora, Leona).

In lieu of flowers, Joan wanted memorial gifts sent to True Life Church, pastored by son-in-law Mark Ham, as a response to the powerful love of God, and in joyful anticipation of Jesus welcoming her to Heaven with open arms (True Life Church, 9789 Highway 51 S., Atoka TN  38004).  Joan's home-going service will be held post-pandemic, when all family members can gather together, with burial at West Tennessee Veteran's Cemetery.