Joan Young Thro, 78, a long time educator in Hardin County, , died Saturday, August 13 in Lexington. Born on May 10, 1938 in Harrodsburg, she was the only child of William Wallace Young and Vertna Salmon Young. She graduated from Harrodsburg High School in 1955 and was voted Most Likely to Succeed in her class. The first member of her family to attend college, she graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1959 with a degree in Home Economics and certification in secondary education. She later earned a Masters degree and Rank I status from Western Kentucky University. In the Fall of 1959, she became an educator in the Hardin County Schools and spent over forty years as a teacher and guidance counselor before retiring in 2000. She served at Howe Valley, West Hardin, East Hardin, and Central Hardin High Schools. In August 1962, she married Dr. Ernest Thro. Their marriage lasted forty-six years until his death in December 2008. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a long time member of Harrodsburg Baptist Church, Cecilia Baptist Church (Hardin County), and Severns Valley Baptist Church (Elizabethtown). Health problems forced her to relocate to Sayre Christian Village in Lexington in early 2013, but she remained mentally sharp and in regular contact with many friends from Hardin County. She is survived by a son, Bill (Julie) of Lexington, and three grandchildren--Sandra Edwards-Thro of Williamsburg, Virginia; Will Edwards-Thro of Richmond, Virginia; and Noah Edwards-Thro of Lexington. The memorial service will be Saturday, August 20, at 2:00 pm at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. The family will receive visitors from 12:00-2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Hardin County Educational Foundation., 306 West Dixie Avenue, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. Condolences may be expressed online at www.brownfuneral.com.

Visitation:

Saturday, August 20, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Brown Funeral Home

Service:

Saturday, August 20, 2016 starting at 2:00 PM
Brown Funeral Home