Joan Search Hanson

Joan Search Hanson, 78, of Elk Street, Franklin, died Thursday, January 3, 2013, at UPMC Northwest.

A daughter of Hendrick M. and Marion Farrell Search, she was born April 4, 1934, in Philadelphia. After the death of her father a year later, she and her mother came to Franklin and made their home with her grandparents John and Amanda Vincent Farrell Nesbit. She attended Margaret Hall School in Versailles, KY and was graduated from Dana Hall School, Wellesley, MA and in 1956 from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

On June 29, 1957, she married Kenneth L. Hanson of Bloomington, IL. Mr. Hanson preceded her in death on April 21, 2010. They lived in New Haven, CT, Springfield, MA, State College, PA and for 27 years in Hinsdale, IL, where she was active in the Grace Episcopal Church, where she served as president of the Altar Guild Society and manager of the church gift shop and was involved with the Hinsdale Humane Society. She and Mr. Hanson came to Franklin in 1991.

Mrs. Hanson was a Board Certified Genealogist and with her husband published a number of books concerning Venango County. She was a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She enjoyed spending many hours researching records in the Pennsylvania Room at the Franklin Public Library.

A member of St. John?s Episcopal Church, she participated in the Shepherd?s Green Food Pantry, the Tuesday Women?s Bible Study and the Adult Forum. She was instrumental in creating needlepoint covers for the kneelers at the altar at both St. John?s and Grace Episcopal Churches.

She was active in community affairs as a member of the Historical Architecture Review Board, was secretary of the Historic Franklin Preservation Association, a member of the Wednesday Club, Wednesday Morning Breakfast Club and was president of the Monday Club. For two summers she hosted an archeological dig in her back and side yards in an attempt to locate Fort Franklin. She was an avid bridge player and had enjoyed travelling with her husband, Ken.
She had knitted many baby and cat blankets. Mrs. Hanson was well-known for riding her bicycle around town.

Joan is survived by her daughter Amanda Gambony of Franklin.

In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her son, John, in 1995 and her son-in-law, Randy L. Gambony, in 2008.

Friends will be received in the Huff Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 312 W. Park St., Franklin from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Monday.

Funeral services will be held in St. John?s Episcopal Church at 11 a.m. Tuesday with The Rev. Holly A. Davis, rector, officiating. A reception will follow the service in the parish hall.

Interment will follow in the Franklin Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Venango County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1045, Oil City PA 16301, the Venango County Historical Society, P.O.Box 101, Franklin PA 16323 or Shepherd?s Green Food Pantry, St. John?s Episcopal Church, P.O.Box 550., Franklin PA 16323.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6