Obituary
Joan Louise (Smith) Price was born in Ossian, Indiana, on September 21, 1928. After 95 well-lived years, she peacefully passed away following a brief illness on March 11, 2024, surrounded by her closest family. She will be remembered with love as being tiny but tough and always quiet in her strength.
Joan was a 1946 graduate of Muncie Central High School.
In 1947, at the age of 19, Joan married her future husband of more than 76 years, Loren Otto Price, after their courtship of less than a year.
As a result of their union, she is survived by two children, Steve (Vicki) Price of Arcadia, Florida, and Janet Price Murray of Daleville, Indiana; six grandchildren, Chad (Lisa) Price, Jason Price, Autumn (David) Price Reas of Florida, Dawn Murray Hatfield of Ohio, Virgil (Queque) Murray and Daniel Murray of Indiana; twelve great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Her loving husband, Loren Price of Muncie, Indiana, as well as many other family members and lifelong friends, also live on to remember Joan as a kind and giving soul who always had a smile to share.
Early in Joan’s career as a telephone operator with Bell Telephone Company, she was awarded the honor of becoming “The Voice of Indiana Bell Telephone.” Hers became the lovely recorded voice by which everyone in Indiana was greeted when calling for directory assistance.
Joan continued sharing her unforgettable voice as a switchboard operator/receptionist at Borg Warner (Warner Gear) for many years until earning her retirement.
She and Loren retired to Venice, Florida, for more than ten years but eventually returned home to Muncie where Joan volunteered in the surgery waiting area of Ball Memorial Hospital.
For years, Joan and Loren were daily walkers at the Muncie Mall. Countless hours were also spent in the company of dear friends and family over their morning coffees at McDonald’s or sharing a bite together at Concannon’s or Mancino’s.
Throughout her life, Joan excelled at needlepoint, quilting, and hand-making rag dolls, bears, and rabbits for her loved ones. She and Loren spent evenings playing cards with friends and family and weekends boating on Prairie Creek Reservoir or at their lakeside cabin in northern Indiana. Joan loved music, and the couple often attended concerts at Bear Creek Farms. Together, they also enjoyed extensive travels across the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Newfoundland.
Joan was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Ina and Eugene DeGuzman, father Clarence Smith, sister Marybelle Cleveland, additional family members, several close friends, and some beloved pets.
Services will be held at Garden View Funeral Home, 10501 N. State Rd. 3, Muncie, Indiana, on Monday, March 18. Viewing hours are noon to 2 p.m. with funeral service and committal ceremony immediately following.
Donations can be made to Muncie’s Animal Rescue Fund (A.R.F.) in Joan’s name as a way to honor her memory and her enduring love of dogs. Text “Mun” to 89871 or visit MuncieARF.com.