Joan Hope Hurst

Joan Hope Hurst of Huntington, West Virginia passed away at the age of 93 on Sunday, November 16, 2025. Born in Richwood, West Virginia on July 13, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Murray and Erie Bredon. Joan was raised on a farm nestled along the Cherry River, where she was spoiled by her brothers, who endlessly doted on her. She moved to Huntington, after graduating from Richwood High School, to attend the St. Mary’s School of Nursing. She met her husband George “Bo” Hurst while in nursing school, and they married in 1953.

Joan is best remembered as a caregiver. She loved nursing and worked as a psychiatric nurse at both the Barboursville Unit of the Huntington State Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital. Joan enjoyed providing care and support for persons with a serious mental illness and gained a reputation for a compassionate, humanizing approach. After she retired from nursing, she grew restless and returned to work at Crossroads United Methodist Church Daycare. Up until her passing, Joan would see “her babies” out and about in Huntington and get updates from their parents.

Her caregiving nature was most evident in her relationship with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Joan was passionate about and protective of her family and happily dedicated most of her time to them. She was endlessly proud of her three children and borderline obsessed with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of whom she provided care for after school, during summers, or on weekends. Joan hated to cook, but loved feeding people and always had her kitchen stocked with a strange assortment of favorite items for any of the kids who were expected to drop in.

Joan was a member of Trinity Church of God for more than 50 years. She served as a nursery worker, Vacation Bible School volunteer, in the Hospitality Ministry, and as a volunteer during Wednesday night dinners. Joan credited her faith for getting her through the tougher times in life and loved old-fashioned gospel music.

In addition to family and church, Joan had a large group of special friends, some of whom she had kept in touch with for more than 70 years. She read voraciously, enjoyed going on long walks, and harbored a very appropriate lifelong crush on Paul Newman.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Bo Hurst; son, Patrick Hurst; sister, Doris Bredon, and brothers, John Bredon, Murray Bredon, and Dan Bredon.

Joan is survived by her daughter, Katherine Thomas; daughter-in-law, Mary Jane Hurst; son, William Hurst (Julie); brother, Jim Bredon; nine grandchildren, Amanda Coleman (Tim), Tracie Lambert, Jacob Hurst (Megan), Kelly Hurst (Daniel), Amy Faulkner (Steven), John Hurst, David Hurst (Kaitlyn), Michael Hurst (Genny), and Emily Adams (Evan); nine great grandchildren, Clay Lambert, Brennan Adkins-Coleman, Keirnan Adkins-Coleman, Mollie Mertz, Daniel Thacker, Hannah Faulkner, Luke Faulkner, Oliver Hurst, and Baby Girl Faulkner, who is soon to arrive; a special brother-in-law, Jeff Hurst; a large number of nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews, and brothers and sisters-in-law.

The funeral service will be held at 1pm Thursday, November 20, 2025, at Beard Funeral Home in Huntington, with Pastor Jennie Lawrence officiating. Burial will follow in the White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Barboursville. Visitation is from noon to 1pm, directly preceding the funeral service.

Tim Adkins, Jacob Hurst, John Hurst, David Hurst, Michael Hurst, and Clay Lambert are serving as pallbearers.

The family requests those wishing to make a gift in Joan’s honor to consider a donation to Harmony House by mail to 627 4th Avenue, Huntington, WV, 25701 or online at www.harmonyhousewv.com.