Joan Duncan Adams

Joan Duncan Adams was born January 11, 1952, in Geneva, Switzerland. She died July 25, 2025 at UPMC Carlisle Hospital. She was a graduate of Carlisle High School and Shippensburg University. She furthered her education at Penn State University where she was awarded a master’s degree in Curriculum and afterwards a Ph.D. in Adult Education.

Joan is survived by her brother, William A. Duncan, Esquire (Linda), her twin sister, Anne Masland (Robert) and youngest sister, Ruth D. O’Brien, Esquire (Robert). She was predeceased by her husband, John (“Jack”) Adams and her beloved niece, Darcy M. O’Brien. In addition, she is survived by her loving companion, Len Crumb, Esquire and his daughter Lauren Huntoon (Stewart) and grandson, Jamie Huntoon. Joan is also survived by her nieces and nephews: Bobby Masland (Stephanie), Colleen O’Brien (Alicia), Gillian Masland and Kelly Palmer (Bret), as well as their respective children.

Joan owned a children’s bookstore, “The Children’s Hour,” in Carlisle for several years. She then worked as Vice President of Education at the Pennsylvania Bankers Association where she ran various schools of banking. After she retired, she worked at her brother’s law firm, Duncan & Hartman as office manager, property manager and estate specialist. It was there that Joan worked closely with Susan Hartman, Esquire and they became close friends.

No mention of Joan’s many accomplishments would be complete without mentioning Joan’s love of photography. Joan began photographing friends and family in her twenties. She honed her skills further by attending classes at Harrisburg Area Community College. Joan created beautiful photographs in black and white and color of weddings, graduations, holidays and other special occasions. Her pastel-tinted black and white photos were highly treasured. Later in life she taught summer programs at Carlisle Arts and Learning Center in Carlisle covering such varied topics as Pop Art, the Sixties, Andy Warhol and “Project Funway” where the students created their own fashions and walked the runway to the delight of family and friends.

Some of Joan’s favorite things were her adorable cats, Freddie and Felix, English mysteries, all things fashion including “Project Runway”, sewing, and travel in Europe and throughout the United States and Canada. A Celebration of Life was held recently for Joan at the Carlisle Country Club. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Hoffman Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Central PA Food Bank, 3908 Corey Road, Harrisburg, PA 17109 or Carlisle Arts Learning Center, 38 West Pomfret Street, Carlisle, PA 17013.