JoAnn Triplett, 93, of Pittsburg, passed away at 2:28 a.m. Friday, July 14, 2023 at Oakview Estates in Frontenac, KS.
She was born July 9 1930 in Pittsburg, the daughter of Paul Louis and Wilma Lee (Stuart) Sell. She grew up in Girard and graduated from Girard High School in 1948. She attended Kansas State Teachers College for three years and graduated from Kansas State University in Manhattan in 1952 with a BS degree. While at KSTC, she was a member of Theta Sigma Upsilon sorority where she was president and was nominated into Who's Who in 1951.
On December 30, 1951, she was united in marriage to Richard E. Hudson in Girard. He was a veterinarian. To this union, three children were born, Dr. Richard Paul Hudson, Cynthia Jo Hudson, and Mark Alan Hudson. He preceded her in death on August 23, 1962 while living in Burlington, Kansas.
JoAnn moved to Pittsburg in 1966. While there, she worked at Sell & Sons Hardware, Crawford County Realty, and became the founder of the Mall Deli in 1971. She sold the Mall Deli in 1979.
On February 23, 1967, she married Dr. Robert F. Triplett. She worked with him as a receptionist until 1971. He preceded her in death on October 24, 2005.
Membership was held in the First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg; Wednesday Morning Study Club; 5 Mary's at FUMC; Book Lovers Club; Chapter CP, PEO, where she held membership since 1949. She was active in several volunteer organizations, including delivering and being a board member for Meals on Wheels and a Pink Lady at Mt. Carmel.
She loved singing and began singing in the church choir in her high school years in Girard and continued this everywhere she lived. She enjoyed singing in the multi-generational choir in Pittsburg. She sang for several years with the Sweet Adelines when it was founded in Pittsburg. She supported her children in their activities while growing up by being a den mother in Boy Scouts and a Girl Scout leader.
Family meant a great deal to her and she always looked forward to Christmas when her extended family gathered at her house.
She is survived by a son, Dr. Richard P. Hudson and his wife, Sheri; a daughter, Cynthia Jo Hudson; her stepchildren, Dr. James Triplett and his wife, Shirley, and Diana Richards and her husband, Tom; step-daughter-in-law, Debbie Triplett; nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Mark Hudson, a brother, Paul S. Sell, and a stepson, Bob Triplett.
The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 21, at the Brenner Mortuary. Funeral services will follow at 10:30 a.m. Friday with Rev. Mark Chambers officiating. Burial will follow in the Girard Cemetery. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home to sign the register book. The family suggests memorials be given to the FUMC Choir. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Arrangements are under the direction of Brenner Mortuary.
