Joan "Jo" R. Bickle

Joan "Jo" Spangler Richard Bickle, 89 of Strasburg, Va, passed away Monday, September 18, 2017 at her home, Delray Farm in Strasburg.

She was born March 31, 1928 in Strasburg, Va., the daughter of the late Harry "Jake" and Mabel Clark Richard. She was preceded in death by her husband, J.C. "Bud" Bickle, a son, Rhett Clark Bickle, a sister, Gene Richard Hupp, and two brothers, Benjamin Clark Richard, Sr. and Jack Harold Richard.

Surviving are two daughters, Ginny Bickle Hamrick of Strasburg, Teri Bickle Garrard of Nokesville; four grandchildren, Jeff Garrard, Heather Garrard Hawkins, Gene Hamrick and David Hamrick; six great-grandchildren, Rhett Michael Hawkins, Rylan Hawkins, Austin Hamrick, Dylan Hamrick, Deanna Hamrick and Gracie Hamrick; plus numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was a graduate of Strasburg High School. She learned to plow with a team of horses and to drive a tractor at the age of nine. Summers were spent in Nebraska exercising and racing horses for the Pringle Ranch. She still had her Nebraska jockey's license. In 1945 she was a guest of Clay Hockman (rodeo announcer from Clary) at the Roy Rogers Rodeo in Washington, D.C. when one of the performers was hospitalized with appendicitis. Clay knew she could ride, called her to the box office and she rode the Rangeland Quadrille, a square dance on horseback. Roy told everyone "Little Jo" was his sister and she finished the tour through Canada and ended in Madison Square Gardens. Roy took Trigger into children's wards in every city they performed and Jo guarded Trigger's tail from anyone snipping off some as a souvenir.

She tooled leather, was secretary of Strasburg Christian Church from 1956 until 1967 when the family moved to The Plains, where she was secretary for Kinloch Farms. After returning to Strasburg she worked for Shenandoah Publishing House typesetting and layout of books, etc. Retiring from the Northern Virginia Daily as a typesetter ad make-up. Then she worked at Lear, in the kitchen, until she was 80.

She played guitar, drew and painted pictures (mostly horses). She loved having her many nieces and nephews stop by every day to tell them family history: Pony Express rider, Mountain Man, Gold Rush miner, Chief Winnemucca, Paiute, eating tumbleweed greens, life in Brush, Colorado during the Depression and Dust Bowl.

But mostly she loved her church and church family. She was an Elder, Sunday school teacher, youth leader, president of CWF, Financial Secretary, and attended District, Region and General Assemblies; as well as CWF Quadrennials, and retreats at Craig Springs Camp.

A gathering of friends will be held Saturday, September 23 at Strasburg Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on High Street at noon, the funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. with a committal at Riverview Cemetery. A meal will be held in the Fellowship Hall.

Pallbearers will be Warren Hamrick, David Hamrick, Carl Hamrick, Cliff Hupp, Martin Haley and Luke Pfister.

Memorials may be made to Strasburg Christian Church (DOC), 165 High St.; or Strasburg Vol. Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 620, Strasburg, Va. 22657.

Online condolences may be made at www.stoverfuneralhome.com

Stover Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Strasburg, VA is serving the family of Mrs. Bickle.