Joan Carol Wible Bumgarner

Joan Carol Wible Bumgarner passed away Monday, July 7. She lived 84 loving years. Wife to Jimmy, Mom to Michael, Chris and Donna, Joan was absolutely the best. She always put her family first. From cutting coupons to make sure her family could go to the beach every summer to making sure, to the penny, the same amount was spent on each of her children at Christmas, Mom was always putting others ahead of herself. Born in Camden, New Jersey on Oct. 22, 1940, Joan was always taking care of someone. She was a nurse for many years at Iredell Memorial. She was always there for anyone who needed someone to listen. That included complete strangers at the grocery store. She would smile and say, “hello”, when she passed people in the aisle. “Mom, do you know them?” “No, I just like saying hello to people.” Sure, that probably weirded some people out but it was one of her ways of practicing random acts of kindness. After five years of trying to have kids, Mom and Dad decided to adopt. An only child, Mom wanted to have a big family. In 1966, in the Colonial Foods parking lot in Concord, Mike became their first son. He never let her forget that he was picked up, along with a six-pack of PBR and some smokes, in a grocery store parking lot . Mom would always laugh at his re-telling of that story, which was often. She always laughed when we told her stories. She made you feel loved. Growing up, her house was the hub for neighborhood kids. She helped fill out college applications and made sure everyone was fed. She was the neighborhood mom to all. In her later years, even as she was slowed by health issues, she didn’t complain. She was old school tough. She had been through a lot in her 84 years. At the end, she was tired and needed rest. Dad passed away in October, 2023. She still talked to him every day. She said he visited in her dreams. They were married 62 years. They are together again, this time, forever. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Carrie Wible. When Nana was alive, she called her every night. They lived literally around the corner but she still called her Mom every evening. She is survived by her sons, Michael (Renee), Chris (Ginger) and daughter, Donna. She adored her grandchildren Brittany (Seth), Emerson and Delaney. For decades, she had the best group of friends, especially Shirley Kunkle, Mary George and the late Gwen Blackwell. She will always be missed. She always went above and beyond for her family. We love you, Mom. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Kidney Foundation. Click Here Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the Bumgarner family.