Joan R. Earley passed away in Leesburg, Virginia on December 19, 2014 at Inova Lansdown Hospital, VA, following a sudden illness. Joan was born on May 27,1928 in Moundsville, West Virginia to Mary Josephine Knight Rusen and John Rusen. Joan lived in Moundsville West Virginia and then lived with her grandmother Johanna Hickey Knight and Grandfather Patrick Knight in Pittsburgh, PA for 13 years. Joan attended School in Moundsville and Pittsburgh. In 1941, the Rusen Family moved to Arlington, VA and Joan attended Washington and Lee High school graduating in 1945. Joan then entered nursing school at Lakeview Hospital in Suffolk in 1945. Joan married William Jesse Earley of Suffolk, VA on November 13, 1948. Upon graduation in 1948 she worked full time at Lakeview Medical Center until retiring in December 1993 with 45 years of service; she then worked an additional eight years PRN with Lakeview Medical Center until 2001 completing 53 years' service as a nurse.

Joan is preceded in death by her mother and father Mary Josephine Knight Rusen and John Rusen, her sister Betty Anne Rusen and her husband of 57 years William Jesse Earley. Joan is survived by her sister Mary Jacquelyn Hoke of Clarksville MD; her son William Stephen Earley and wife Linda S. Earley of Leesburg, VA; grandsons William Paul Earley and wife Kristina L. Earley of Leesburg, VA: John C. Earley and Wife Catherine Earley of Whitehouse, TN; great grandchildren; Kayla M. Earley; William L. Earley; Jacob C.Earley; Nathan S. Earley and Joshua R. Earley; Nieces and Nephews; Richard Hoke, Donald Hoke; Anne Hoke and Mary Ellen Moir.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to one of the following charities: Washington DC Firefighters burn Foundation www.dcffburnfoundation.org; Wounded warriors www.woundedwarriorproject.org or Hydrocephalus Association www.hydroassoc.org .
A viewing will be held at Parr Funeral Home located at 3515 Robs Drive, Suffolk, VA from 7-9 pm on December 26th. A graveside service will be held at Cedar Hill Cemetery on December 27th at 11 am. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.