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Obituary for JoAnn Dyson Wilkes



Mrs. Joann Dyson Wilkes died peacefully at The Fountains at Washington House in Alexandria, VA on January 4, 2018 at the age of 84.

Joann is survived by her son Steven Wilkes and his wife Virginia Fordham of Milton, MA; her sister Lorene Dow and Lorene’s dear friend and partner Daniel Krinsley of Alexandria, VA; her cousin Edward Dyson and his wife Julie of Alexandria, VA, along with many loving nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her mother and father Ruth Louise and Charles Elder Dyson and her brother Danny Charles Dyson all of Alexandria, VA.

Joann was born on October 14, 1933 in Alexandria, VA. She graduated from George Washington High School in 1951. She was married to Richard Wilkes from 1955-57. In 1958 she began working as an office administrator for RCA, which later merged with General Electric and Lockheed Martin, where she worked until 2015. She was a member of the Top Side Aviation Club, a social organization of secretaries working within the aviation industry. Deborah G. Douglas’ book, American Women and Flight, quotes the Air Force Times description of the group as “often smoothing the way in lining up appointments for their bosses, coming up with hard information or merely ‘oiling the machinery of mutual business.’”

A service is scheduled for Tuesday, January 9, at 10am at Everly-Wheatley Funeral Home, 1500 W. Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22302. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Joann’s life. The family would like to acknowledge the staff of The Fountains at Washington House for their kindness and care. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Heart Association.