Joan Mae Niles

Joan Reese Niles (Bates) of Bel Air, MD passed away on October 25, 2021, she was 92. The daughter of Ethel Miller Reese and George Raymond Reese, and wife of the late William Niles who preceded her in death in 2001. Joan was born on February 23, 1929, in Ellwood City Pennsylvania. After graduating from Lincoln High School, she married Donald R. Bates in 1949 and moved to New Castle, Pa. There she attended Slippery Rock College and graduated cum laude in 1963 after the births of her three children. She taught speech and drama for 3 1/2 years before moving to Bel Air, MD in 1966. She completed her M/ED and ultimately her 30 beyond at the University of Maryland. Joan taught at Aberdeen, Bel Air and Joppatown High Schools before retiring in 1989.

She became a licensed private pilot in 1970 and flew actively out of Aldino Airport for 12 Years.

Her love of travel took her to 14 countries in Europe and every one of the 50 states, along with trips to Canada, Mexico and all the Caribbean Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Australia. Along with traveling, her favorite pastimes were playing cards, crosswords puzzles, line dancing, reading, and singing. She sang in many church choirs, Sweet Adeline’s of Harford County as well as the Phoenix Choir in Towson. In the 90's she joined the Cor Rehoboth Welsh Choir which toured Europe, Wales and England and sang at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The choir also performed at the Michael Douglas and Kathryn Zeta-Jones wedding in New York City. She served as MD Chapter President of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, served 6 years on the Harford County Commission for Woman, President of AMC, and a member of CCA for many years. She was also an active member of the 99's, an all-woman pilot’s organization, started by Amelia Earhart. She was also an Elder at Churchville Presbyterian Church, taught Sunday School and helped with Vacation Bible School. She has also been a Den mother and Girl Scout Leader.

She is survived by three children, Dianne Bates of Hillsboro, OR. Bruce (Carol) Manley Bates of Frederick, MD and Judy (David) Sakalas of Street, MD; 2 stepchildren; 5 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; sister, Pat Vargo; sister-in-law Sue Reese and a brother-in-law Joe Burcik, all of Ellwood City, PA and many beloved nieces and nephews.  

A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be held on Sunday November 7th 1-3 at Liberatores Ristorante in Bel Air.