Zillah, Washington - Joan Sandra (Wagoner) Cover, youngest child of Alva & Virginia (Patrick) Wagoner, was born March 15, 1941, in Lafayette, Indiana, and grew to adulthood on the family farm near Mulberry, Indiana. After graduation from Mulberry High School, she worked a variety of jobs and enjoyed traveling. She soon developed a long-distance relationship with Raymond Earl Cover of Modesto, California. On the snowy evening of February 15, 1964, they were joined in Christian marriage.

Marriage brought Joan from Indiana to California. To this home, were born three sons and one daughter. They became charter parents in the formation of Brethren Heritage School. Joan was often found volunteering as an aid in the classroom exercising her gift of teaching. As her children started reaching maturity, Joan drew on her prior work experience as she helped her sons with office work.

After forty-one years of married life in Modesto, Raymond and Joan felt called to move to Zillah, Washington. Here they continued their practice of offering hospitality to family and friends from near and far.

On September 29, 2014, after fifty years of marriage, Joan faced a life-altering transition when she suffered a massive stroke resulting in her left side being paralyzed. In one moment, she went from being an active servant to one being served. After a hospital stay and several months of rehabilitation, Joan was able to return to her home in Zillah where Raymond lovingly cared for her until his sudden passing on October 31, 2016.

Following Raymond's passing, Joan continued in her own home with the help of various caregivers until the spring of 2019 when she moved to Jacob & Renie's and lived there until her death. Joan spent these last years seeking to stay busy with tasks that she could do from a wheelchair.

Joan's physical limitations became more apparent following subsequent strokes in 2019 and 2023. Recognizing her declining health, she entered Hospice care in December of 2024. Joan passed from this life into the presence of our Savior in the early morning hours of January 30, 2026, at the age of 84 years, 10 months, and 15 days. She was a member of the Zillah District of the Old German Baptist Brethren Church - New Conference at the time of her passing.

In addition to her husband, Joan was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-Law and mother-in-Law, Earl & Lois (Rumble) Cover; sister and brother-in-law, Ruby & Ralph Jenkins; brother, Harris Wagoner; Raymond's sisters and their husbands, Ruth & Sam Yost and Cora June & Lowell Eller.

Left to mourn her passing are her four children, Jacob & Irene (Renie) Cover, David & Beth Cover, Jonathan & Chris Cover, and Rachel & Martin Holsinger; eight grandchildren, Aaron Cover, Dinah (Holsinger) & Leon Baumgartner, John Cover, Titus Holsinger, Sarah Cover, Andrew Holsinger, Stephen Cover, and Austin Holsinger; one great-grandson, Benjamin Baumgartner; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visitation is planned for Friday, February 6, 2026, from 6:00-8:00PM and the Funeral Service will be on Saturday, February 7, at 10:30AM, followed by a Graveside Service, all at the Old German Baptist Brethren Church- New Conference, (203 W. Centennial Drive, Zillah, WA 98953).

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to Heartlinks Hospice for the excellent care they provided to Joan during this last season of her earthly life and suggests anyone wanting to make contributions in Joan's memory to direct these funds payable to Heartlinks Hospice and sent in care of Brookside Funeral Home (PO Box 1267, Moxee, WA 98936), who is caring for the family. Online condolences may be left at www.brooksidefuneral.com.