Joan Shinew Mason, Class of 1949

Joan Shinew Mason ’49, died June 17, 2022. She was born on May 6, 1928, to the late Homer and Bertha Shinew.
Joan attended Otterbein University and graduated in 1949 with a degree in English. During her time at Otterbein, she was a part of many groups including Phi Sigma Iota, Tan & Cardinal, and Sigma Alpha Tau (Owls) sorority. She then earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Michigan. Joan was a librarian at Bellingham, WA, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA, SUNY-Syracuse (NY), Akron Art Institute, and Colorado College.
Joan loved her church, her friends and her family. She loved to travel and was an avid gardener and amateur photographer as well as an excellent cook.
Joan is survived by three children, Sean Mason (Laura), Kay Morice (Bill), and Joyce Mason (Jim Lande); five grandchildren: Nathan, Josh, Charlotte, Michelle, and Elizabeth; four great-grandchildren; and her nephews, James (Cindy) Hampshire and Jon (Leslie) Hampshire.
She was predeceased by her husband Elsworth Mason and sister Irene Shinew Hampshire ’47.