Joan Ethel Norvill Harper

Joan Ethel Norvill Harper was born on October 30, 1935 in Liverpool, England where she lived until shortly after she married. She died on September 28, 2017 in a local healthcare facility.
As a student, she earned an academic scholarship to attend the Belvedere School for Girls in Liverpool from which she graduated with High Honors. Following graduation, she studied pharmacy. She met and married Herbert C. Harper, who was serving in England with the United States Air Force. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to the U.S. In 1961, Joan became a naturalized citizen. She was a devoted, loving citizen of her newly adopted country. Through the years as an Air Force wife, Joan was active in the NCO Wives Club and served as a volunteer in the Air Base Chapel Ministry. After Mr. Harper’s retirement from military service in 1970, the couple and their three children moved to Cleveland, Tennessee. They continued to participate in Air Force activities, and the annual reunions which they attended became an avenue to form new friendships of fellow veterans and their families.
Joan was a warm and outgoing individual and quickly made many new friends in and around the Cleveland area. Her life was one of service as she became one of the first volunteers to the new Head Start Program in Bradley County. She also volunteered for the newly-established Help Line Ministry and served on the Board of The Cleveland Bradley County Food Bank. As a member of the Anglican faith, she joined Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church where she was active in the Episcopal Church Women, Caring and Sharing Ministry, and the Altar Guild. Joan was instrumental in starting the Saint Luke’s Prayer Chain Ministry which she led for approximately 20 years.
Joan always had an affinity for the Fine Arts and joined the Cleveland Creative Arts Guild through which she participated in several Dinner Theatre productions. She was an active member of the Cleveland Guild of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association. She was a Charter Member of both The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga and Cleveland’s Museum Center at 5ive Points. During the many years after departing her beloved homeland, she was an active member of the Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association (TBPA). Joan communicated with many expatriates via the Internet and was instrumental in forming The Brit Pack Association. This group provided an opportunity for many British nationals living in the U.S. to meet and share in their heritage while living abroad.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents Irene and Arthur Norvill of Huyton, Longview, England. She is survived by her husband of almost 61 years, Herbert C. Harper of Georgetown, TN; daughter Suzanne Curtis and husband, Edwin; son Ian Harper and wife, Lisa of Cleveland, TN; son Keith Harper and his girlfriend Hannah Ginese of Red Bank, TN; her adored grandchildren, William and Emma Curtis of Knoxville, TN; Kate Harper of Chattanooga, TN; and Allie Harper of Chicago, IL; sister Doreen Anderson of Moreton, U.K.; cousins Edward Bestwick, Frank Doran, Sandra Fitzsimons all living in the U.K.; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
A visitation and reception will be held at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall on Thursday, October 12 at 3pm with a Memorial Service to follow in the church at 5pm. The Interment of Ashes will take place following the service in the Saint Luke’s Memorial Garden. The Reverend Doctor Joel Huffstetler will officiate. The family wishes to express its sincere thanks and appreciation to the many caregivers at Clare Bridge of Cleveland, Bradley Healthcare and Rehab Center in Cleveland, and Hearth Hospice of Chattanooga for their devoted and loving care of Joan.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Saint Luke’s Memorial Fund or Alzheimer’s Association.