JoAnne Downes Whealton, loved family, music, nature

JoAnne Downes Whealton, 89, of Milton, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family Friday, March 1, 2024. JoAnne was born May 11, 1934, in Brunswick, Ga., to the late John Schoch and Joan (Woodworth) Downes. 

JoAnne’s family moved to Rehoboth Beach when she was a young child, when the roads were still dirt, and when her family home in Henlopen Acres was considered the country. She attended Rehoboth schools from first grade to graduation in 1952 and was a life member of Epworth UMC, Rehoboth Beach.

JoAnne’s parents instilled in her a lifelong passion for academics and learning. She greatly enjoyed history, astrology, classic movies, and cooking; she was a fabulous cook. Her beach life childhood enabled her to be a fearless ocean swimmer. JoAnne was a Sussex County nature lover, especially caring for animals, and both pet and stray cats during her lifetime.

Family tradition carries a love for the arts and music. JoAnne was an accomplished pianist and vocalist, serving in the bell choir and chancel choir for Epworth and St. Marks UMC. 

She derived fierce happiness from the accomplishments of her family and a close-knit extended family. JoAnne’s dearest legacy remains within them, who embraced a lasting and multigenerational bond.

She is preceded in death by her brother, John Michael Downes; grandson, David Matthew Scharff; nephew, Brian Lee Downes; great-nephew Chad Christopher Long; and sister-in-law, Jean Lynch Downes.

She will be greatly missed by her daughter, Bridget Downes Buckaloo of Lewes; a long-lost daughter, Barbara Kay Donithan (born Allison Suzanne Downes) of Milton; her siblings, Dana Downes of Milton, Lucy Downes Casey (David) of Cocoa Beach, Fla., and Oliver Lee Downes (Jeanne) of Melbourne, Fla.; her five grandchildren, Maren Lucy Buckaloo, Richard Quinn Buckaloo, Sloane Elizabeth Buckaloo and Christopher Michael Colpo, all of Lewes, and Christopher Randolph Scharff of Blue Eye, Miss.; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews; a large extended family; and many, many friends.

A celebration of JoAnne’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, March 8, at Short Funeral Services chapel, 416 Federal St., Milton. Interment is private.

Online condolences may be sent at shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in JoAnne’s honor to Milton Cat Snippers, miltoncatsnippers.org; Village Volunteers, villagevolunteer.org; or Beebe Medical Foundation, beebehealthcare.org/donate.