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JOAN STANGROOME STUBBS

Joan Stangroome Stubbs of Gloucester, passed away peacefully the morning of March 2, 2018, having completed her life journey which began in London, England, Aug. 29, 1927. As her mother before her, she passed away in her sleep at home. 

She was the younger daughter of Cecil and Dorothy Stangroome. Her only sister, Cecilia Mesher, preceded her in death.

As a school girl she was evacuated to the English countryside during the London Blitz of WWII. Her parents soon followed, and they lived in a makeshift cabin her father constructed from materials he had from his commercial advertising business. They had no electricity, hand-pumped water, and an outhouse, but they were together as a family. In August of 1942, the U.S. Eighth AF, 92nd Bomb Group, 407th Bomb Squadron, arrived at Bovingdon Airfield, just up Chalk Hill from the village of Bourne End, where Mom was living. An askew blackout curtain at Fred’s Café led to the meeting of Mom and a 22-year-old U.S. B-17 aircraft mechanic by the name of Walter Moody Stubbs Jr. They married in the village chapel Sept. 4, 1944.

Leaving family and home for the unknown, she crossed the Atlantic on the first “War Brides” ship, the S.S. Argentina, arriving in New York City in February of 1946. They resided on Willoughby Spit, Norfolk, Virginia, and bore a son, Stephen and a daughter, Marilynn. In 1954, the family moved to Bayville Park, Bayside, Princess Anne County, now Virginia Beach. She was active as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader, as well as, the local PTA. Not fond of the water nor boats, she nevertheless gladly supported the family love of sailing their beloved Mobjack, “Hubba Hubba,” in many regattas with great success.

In the mid-1980s, they built a home in Gloucester, where they became active in the Gloucester Genealogy Society, Historical Society and the Riverside Wellness and Fitness Center. Mom also enjoyed the many friends she met in the Red Hats of Gloucester. 

Dad preceded Mom in death on April 11, 2004. Her surviving family includes son, Stephen M. Stubbs and wife Linda S. Stubbs of Harbor Springs, Michigan, and their two sons, Justin and Lawrence; her daughter, Marilynn C. Hall and husband Sonny Hall of Palatka, Florida, and their three daughters, Jodi Hall-Rodgers, Carrie Comer and Katie Hersey, and she had seven great-grandchildren.

Memorial service conducted by the Rev. Mike Gray will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018, at Newington Baptist Church, Gloucester. Private inurnment will be at Windsor Gardens Cemetery and Mausoleum.

In memory of our beloved mom, donations may be given to Riverside Walter Reed Hospice, 7358 Main Street, Gloucester, Va. 23061.

Arrangements under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home and Crematory, Gloucester Point. Please visit www.hoggfh.com to share condolences and memories.