JoAnna Walburn Lang Larrew Meeks

JoAnna Velma Walburn was born in Fresno, California on March 31,1938 to Gertrude and Fred Walburn.  She passed away peacefully at home with family and friends present on Monday, June 3, 2024.  She was 86 years old.

JoAnna grew up in Fresno with her parents and older brother Walter, who affectionately went by the nickname Skip.

She attended Fresno High School and graduated in 1956.

On November 9, 1956, JoAnna married Robert (Bob) J. Lang and together they had three sons: Jeffrey, born in 1958, Michael, born in 1959, and Matthew, born in 1961.  Robert passed away in 1962.  In January of 1965, she remarried to David Larrew.  He was a loving husband and father to the three boys.  In 1967, the family moved to Campbell, Ca, and then to Lockeford in 1972.  They returned to Fresno in 1973.

In July 1982, she remarried again to Lee Meeks, a retired Commanding Warrant Officer in the Navy.  They lived in Clovis, Ca from that time to present.

JoAnna is preceded in death by her parents Gertrude and Fred, brother Walter, husband Robert, and her beloved second son, Mikey.

She is survived by her husband Lee; son Jeff Lang, and his wife Lucy; son Matt Lang, and his wife Allison; grandchildren Kenton, Landon, and Lauren Lang; stepson Dave Meeks, his wife Patty and grandchildren Crystal, Kevin and Walter Meeks; stepson Bob Meeks, his wife Darlene and grandson Tim Meeks; stepdaughter Lori Crown; great grandchildren Janayah, Sariyah, Zaire, Izri, and Jaylen Meeks; several nieces and nephews, who grew up lovingly referring to her as "JoNana", and many, many dear friends.

JoAnna was an amazing woman–a wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend– who always enjoyed life, even through hardships and losses.  She was a tireless worker and was always willing to step in and take charge. She spent 50+ years as a member of Phi Beta Psi Sorority, a national group committed to raising funds for cancer research. She served as treasurer of her chapter for several years, and turned her garage into a workshop, where she would create beautiful and fun crafts to sell at the charity events they hold biannually.

She also enjoyed her career in banking, which started around 1980 at Bank of Fresno.

JoAnna's home away from home, her favorite place to visit, was our neighbor to the north, Canada. There she would visit her cousin Patt and niece Linda for weeks at a time in Langley, British Columbia.  Patt and Linda would visit here as well, and during those visits all benefited from Linda and JoAnna's time in the kitchen.

Throughout her life, JoAnna has touched the lives of many with her unwavering kindness and compassion.  Her home has always been an open and welcoming place, where friends and family gather for anything from birthday parties to holiday dinners, or just to be together.  She made every event a memorable one.

Many words can be used to describe our dear JoAnna:  Energetic, Creative, Tireless, Fierce, Sassy, Loving, Smart, Accepting, Sarcastic, Funny, Tough, Family First, and Loyal, just to name a few.

She will be fondly remembered for her lighthearted sense of humor, her ability to face difficult challenges head on, her commitment to helping the fight against cancer, and her love of cooking, gardening, and most of all, family.

Rest in Peace, dear Nana. You are loved and missed more than words can express and will forever live on in our hearts.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 11 AM at Trinity Community Church-12168 N. Willow Ave Clovis CA 93619.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to:

Trinity Community Church

Or

Phi Beta Psi Sorority-

℅ Haunani Warinner

481 W. Audubon Drive #103

Fresno, CA 93711