Joanna Hoy King

ZIONSVILLE — With her family by her side, Joanna Hoy King, 86, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2016, at her home in Zionsville, Indiana.

Joanna was born in Lebanon, Indiana, on September 29, 1929, to James Hoy and Joy Shelby Hoy. Joanna and older sister Virginia grew up in Lebanon, with Joanna graduating first in her class from Lebanon High School in 1946. After completing a two-year business program at Katherine Gibbs Business College in Chicago, "Jo" gained employment with the Allison Division of GM in Indianapolis, where she met her future husband Maurice A. King.
Married in 1951, Jo and Maurie settled in Speedway, Indiana, where they stayed for nearly thirty years raising their children. In 1956, Jo began a career in bookkeeping and later office management for the United States Auto Club, where she remained for twenty three years, becoming a lifelong auto racing fan. She received the prestigious "Woman Behind the Scenes in Racing" award in 1981. The couple enjoyed a brief period of retirement together on Lake of Egypt in southern Illinois, but after Maurie's unexpected death, Jo returned to Indiana, this time to Zionsville. She then worked another fifteen years as bookkeeper/office manager for Wilcox Public Relations Inc., of Indianapolis. Throughout her later years, Jo ran her own bookkeeping business, held the office of treasurer for the Indy 500 Old Timers Club, maintained her longtime memberships to Psi Iota Xi and Daughters of the American Revolution, knit and felted hats sold at local craft fairs ("Hats by Jo"), exercised with the Sunrisers group, attended Zionsville United Methodist Church, and played bridge as often as she possibly could, saying "it kept her mind sharp."

Joanna was preceded by her husband Maurice A. King and her sister, Virginia Hoy Thomas. She is survived by her three children Kenneth, David, and Laura, and Maurice's daughter Mary; nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on October 1, 2016, at Flanner and Buchanan-Zionsville. Visiting will begin at 1:00pm, followed by the memorial service at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to USAC Benevolent Foundation,124 E. Northfield Dr, Ste F #129, Brownsburg, IN 46112.