Joan Cousins Ion Barger, 92, of Karns City, went to be with the Lord early Saturday morning, March 8, 2025 in the presence of her loving family at Parker Personal Care.
Joan was born in Petrolia on August 29, 1932. She was the daughter of the late McClelland K. and Adda May Roudebush Cousins.
She attended school in Karns City and was a lifelong active member of the Karns City Church of God of Prophecy. She was a member of the well-known Cousins Sisters Gospel Singers. Joan had been employed in the housekeeping department at Butler Memorial Hospital for more than 15 years. She was a loving and dedicated homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, George J. Ion, whom she married on September 23, 1955. Mr. Ion passed away November 7, 1991. Joan married Howard E. Barger on August 14, 1999. He preceded her in death on March 27, 2015.
Surviving are two sons, Bishop Alan J. Ion and his wife, Jackie, of Parker and Tracy J. Ion and his wife, Barbara E., of Karns City; a daughter, Sonya J. Bell and her husband, Joe, of Chicora; her grandchildren, Taylor K. Stanton and her husband, James, of Kittanning, Alana Fulton and her husband, Ron, of Connellsville, Amanda Harbaugh and her husband, Matthew, of Rockwood, Erin Riveria and her husband, Josue, of Philadelphia, Gina Flanders of Ford City, Shaun Ion and his wife, Molly, of McCandless Twp., and Jeremiah Ion (Hazy) of Zelienople; her great grandchildren, “Gabe”, Cooper, Noah, Ava, Trevor, and Landon; a brother, Virgil R. Cousins and his wife, Sandra, of Karns City; three sisters, Betty Jane Hutchison and Carol Hutchison and her husband, David, all of Chicora and Sherry Gibson and her husband, Robert “Bob” of Butler. Joan had a special fondness for her stepdaughter, Nancy Johns, and her children and grandchildren, as well as her longtime friend, Debbie Smith, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by her son, Georgie K. Ion; three sisters, Armeida McElravy; her twin sister, Henrietta McElravy, and an infant sister, Eleanor Cousins, and a brother, McClelland “Bub” Cousins Jr, and a number of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Friends will be received at the Karns City Church of God of Prophecy, 1510 Kittanning Pike, Karns City, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025. A funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. with Pastor Roy Tilton, a retired Church of God of Prophecy minister, and Bishop William Luckadoo, pastor of New Eagle Church of God of Prophecy, co- officiating. The interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Sugarcreek Twp., Armstrong Co.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Karns City Church of God of Prophecy.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hile Funeral Home of Karns City. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.