Joan Louise Bay
Joan Louise Peterson Bay, 89, of West Lafayette, Indiana, passed away peacefully at home on April 19, 2025.
Born on March 2, 1936, in Camden, New Jersey, Joan was the daughter of John and Anna Peterson. She earned her pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and dedicated her career to hospital pharmacy. Joan began her professional journey in pharmaceutical research and then went on to serve communities through her work at People's Pharmacy; Roanoke Memorial Hospital; Emmett Memorial Hospital; and Alleghany Regional Hospital.
On March 5, 1960, Joan married her pharmacy school classmate, James Campbell Bay III, who survives her. They worked together to build several healthcare businesses in Clifton Forge, including Farrar’s Drug Store, Regional Home Care, Geriatric Rx Care, and Mountain Regional Hospice.
Joan enjoyed painting and was a long time member of a painting group in Clifton Forge. She continued painting in West Lafayette with new friends when she moved there. Joan also loved the dachshunds she owned over the years: Maggie, Ginger, Coco, and Prissy. In recent years, she enjoyed watching the many birds who visited her back yard.
In addition to her husband, Joan is survived by her children: James C. Bay IV (Cindy) of Clifton Forge, Virginia; Debbie Kinsey (Mark) of Knob Noster, Missouri; and Jennifer Bay (Thomas Rickert) of West Lafayette, Indiana; her sister, Joyce Spengler of Conway, South Carolina; numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; and special friends, Glenn and Cindy Perry. The family would like to especially thank Joan’s caregivers, who took such loving care of her in recent years: Lori, Margarita, Melissa, Shauna, and Tamieka.
Joan will be remembered for her intellect, quiet strength, and resilience. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Nicely Funeral Home in Clifton Forge, VA, with Rev. Donna Sams officiating. The family will receive friends that Saturday, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Burial will take place at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wabash Valley Youth Symphony (https://wvys.org/), where Joan’s grandchildren, Paul, Dylan, and Sophia, share her love of music.
To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com
