Joan White Youmans Crepps | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Joan White Youmans Crepps, 91, of Washington, North Carolina passed peacefully on February 10, 2024.

    Joan was born in Washington, North Carolina to Edwin Loris and Zadah White Youmans on August 8, 1932. She attended Washington High School and cheered on the Pam Pack graduating in 1950. She was an alumnus of The Women's College of the University of North Carolina. She would sing she was a tar heel born and a tar heel bred, the Carolina fight song up to shortly before her death. Joan went on to work in Kinston, North Carolina where she met the love of her life, Lieutenant USAF William (Bill) Ledbetter Crepps, Jr. of Kannapolis, North Carolina. Joan and Bill were married on December 20, 1957 and Joan enjoyed the military life with her Air Force pilot husband traveling the world and meeting friends she would keep for a lifetime.

    Upon Bill's retirement in Hampton, Virginia in 1971 Joan went back to work. She also went back to school and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Leo College in 1978. She worked as a contract negotiator at Langley Air Force Base and then with NASA. While at Langley AFB she was recognized as Langley Woman of the Year in 1982. While at NASA her career as a contract specialist/contracting officer was highlighted with many awards for outstanding performance for a variety of aeronautic and space related projects. She was known as a brilliant contract specialist and the technical scientists and engineers enjoyed working with her. She served as the President of NCMA (National Contract Management Association) from 1988-90. Joan retired in 2000 after a highly successful 32 year career. Following her retirement she was recruited and hired by GMR who she worked for into her seventies. She was a hardworking, keen and successful contract negotiator well respected by both peers and superiors.

    All the while, Joan was enjoying a side career as a gymnastics judge. She was a USA Gymnastics judge and also judged high school and college level meets in Virginia. She cherished the friendships she made through this community and loved being involved in the sport her daughters participated. She judged for many years, far past their gymnastics careers. Joan was as fun loving as she was hard working. She loved a good time and a good joke. She had a great love of family. To her children she was their rock - grounding, supportive and encouraging.

    A loving mother to her three children and a proud grandmother of her three grandchildren. She is survived by her children Doug Crepps of Bath, NC, Joni Crepps Murphy (Frank) of Johns Creek, GA, Kelly Crepps Gessel (Tom) of Colorado Springs, CO, her grandchildren Drew Gessel, Bruce Murphy, and Brooke Murphy, and her siblings Ed Youmans (Sylvia) of Washington, NC, Gus Youmans of Washington, NC, Eric Youmans of Siler City, NC and Noel Youmans of Tampa, FL as well as very dear cousins and lifelong friends. Joan is preceded in death by her husband USAF Retired Major Bill Crepps and her parents Ed and Zadah Youmans.

    A private memorial will be held with family. In lieu of flowers, as a forty year breast cancer survivor donations can be made in her name to the American Cancer Society and/or to Susan G Komen for the Cure.

    The family wishes to extend their gratitude to ECU Health Medical Center Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Step Down Unit and Hospice House as well as Paul Funeral Home for their care and compassion to our mother and family in her final days.

    A life well lived Mom. We are so proud of you, love you so very much, thank you for everything, and will miss your presence in this life terribly. Godspeed. All our love, Doug, Joni and Kelly

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Crepps family.