Jo Ann Mendenhall, 95, of Poca, passed peacefully into her Lord’s arms on August 8, 2026.
She was born in Logan County to Lester and Ruby Spaulding on June 12, 1931, then moved with her family to Poca when she was in elementary school. Jo Ann was a proud graduate of Poca High School, Class of 1949, and then continued her love of learning by graduating from the Charleston School of Commerce. On March 18, 1955, she married the love of her life, Charles Mendenhall of Eleanor, and they were happily married for 63 years before Charles’ passing. They were blessed with six children: Charles Timothy Mendenhall (deceased), William Scott Mendenhall of Atlanta, GA, Tracie Ann Puckett (Bruce) of Noblesville, IN, Joseph Kevin Mendenhall (Melody) of Hurricane, Melissa Jane Fischer (John) of Poca, and Jill Kay Domaschko (Dirk) of Monroe, OH. Jo Ann and Charles were the proud grandparents of Heather Mendenhall Kessler (Joseph), Chanisha Mendenhall, Hollie Puckett Vessely (Jonathan), Shaylyn Mendenhall Hampton (Jordan), Benjamin Puckett, Hailey Fischer, Dylan Mendenhall, William Domaschko, Rachel Fischer, and Meghan Lake. They were also blessed to be great-grandparents to Gabriel Kessler, Sawyer Mendenhall, Aviana Kessler, Shiloh Hampton, Ruby Vessely, and Josiah Hampton.
Without a doubt, Jo Ann was the absolute best mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and was loved by so many in her church, her community, and her extended family of nieces and nephew. She was the oldest member of Poca United Methodist Church, where she’s served faithfully for most of her life. We rest assured knowing she’s at peace now with her Lord and her family in Heaven. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Ruby, her siblings Doug Spaulding, William (Bud) Spaulding, and Doris Spaulding Martin, her husband, Charles, her oldest son, Tim, and in-laws, Floyd and Olive Mendenhall.
After business school, Jo Ann started her career at American Viscose in Nitro where she worked in the lab and then became the plant manager’s secretary. A few years later, she took on the job she was most proud of, by working tirelessly as a homemaker and at raising her six children. When all the kids were in school, she went back to work and retired from the Putnam County Courthouse.
We cannot thank the caregivers from Cabell Healthcare enough for their loving care of our mother.
The viewing will be on Wednesday, August 12, at 10:00 a.m. at Poca United Methodist Church with services starting at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow immediately after at Haven of Rest Memorial Gardens in Hometown, WV.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Poca United Methodist Church at 112 Silver Street, Poca, WV 25159.
