Joan Marie (Belanga) Waitas

Joan Marie Waitas (Belanga) passed in peace on Saturday December 10th, 2022.  Joan was born to Theron and Audrey Belanga in the Fall of 1934 in North Carolina.  Joan had three brothers: Glen (D), Bruce (D) and Ron (L).

She grew up and graduated high school in the town of Paw Paw, MI. It was there she met and married her loving husband, Frank “Bud” Waitas on May 23, 1953.  Together they raised their three daughters: Darc, Jeanna, and Lori.  After more than fifty years as his wife, he preceded her in death.   She loved being a grandmother to her two granddaughters; Jennifer and Angela (who was her favorite) and she doted on her many great grandchildren.

During her life Joan enjoyed entertaining, painting, and traveling with friends and family as well as volunteering with her seniors’ group.   She will be dearly missed by her family and her many friends.

Visitation with family and friends will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Lawton, on January 6th at 11:00 am with a Memorial Service at 12:00 pm.  Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Lawton with a luncheon after.

To honor Joan’s life as a servant of God, please consider making a donation to the food pantry, collections will be taken at St. Paul’s.