Joan S. Mowery

Joan Schmidt Mowery, 88, of Stephens City, passed on to her new life on Friday, May 22, 2026, at her residence surrounded by her children.

Joan was born on September 25, 1937, in Ewing, NJ, daughter of the late Henry and Anna Schmidt. 

She was the last surviving member and the youngest of seven children. Joan and her family grew up on a large dairy farm in Ewing. She often helped her mother cleaning and grading eggs and learned her love of cooking from helping her mother and sisters prepare meals for their farm help.

She married Philip H. Mowery, Jr, and shared almost 60 years of marriage before his death in 2015. Joan worked as a floral designer and retired as manager of Allen’s Flowers in Hopewell, NJ. She loved to read, watch the birds at her feeder, grow plants and flowers and listen and sing to music, especially the old traditional songs and church hymns. She sang in several church choirs.

In her retirement, she and Phil delivered Meals on Wheels in Trenton, NJ and Lancaster, PA. She was a faithful home volunteer with hospice of Lancaster and would comfort patients by singing and reading. She was an active member of Fairview Church in Stephens City where she enjoyed being a lay reader, serving on different committees, and helping with the Community Meal.

She loved her family and her many furry companions, most recently her son’s dog, Otis. Her family gave her so much love, joy, and happiness. She is survived by her son, Dale Mowery; her daughter, Penny Croll and her husband, Tom; her special grandchildren, Megan Mowery, Ryan Mowery and his fiancée, Tess, Chelsea Croll Davis and her husband, Alex, and Casey Croll. The lights of her life were her great-granddaughters, Charlotte Marie, Hannora Rose, and Lelia Clare Davis.

Because of her love and concern for all people, Joan has left her body to science to help in the teaching of medical students. Her greatest wish was to be remembered for the love and compassion she shared with others.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Fairview Church in Stephens City with Pastor John Lock officiating.

If you would like to remember Joan, memorial contributions may be made to Fairview Church (1132 Double Church Road, Stephens City, VA 22655) or to Blue Ridge Care (Attn: Development, 333 West Cork Street, Suite #405, Winchester, VA 22601).