Joan McLean Nimms

Joan McLean Nimms left us on January 17, 2022 to be with her Lord Jesus Christ and George. Joan was born on October 10, 1931 in Pelham, Georgia to Ralph and Wilma Lodge McLean. She grew up in Gainesville, FL but spent summers with her family in Georgia to Ralph and Wilma Lodge McLean. She grew up in Gainesville, FL but spent summers with her family in Georgia. She majored in music education and administration in 1958 from the University of Florida. She proudly served in the United States Air Force in 1959 and 1960 in the Waif Band. During her time in California in the waif band, she was very homesick. One evening she was in the library on base and a young man saw her crying. He was very kind and comforting. His name was George Nimms, they fell fast in love and ran off to Las Vegas to get married and enjoyed 47 wonderful years of marriage. Upon leaving the Air Force they moved to New York where Joan was a music instructor and worked in administration for the Olster School System until retiring in 1986. They moved to Ocala to be near family, particularly Nelle Needham, Joan’s cousin that was like a sister to her, and to be nearer to her family in GA. George passed in 2007 after a long and complicated illness. Joan enjoyed her membership at St. Matthews Lutheran Church and the many friends she met there, particularly Gertrude Schultz (whom she talked with every day) and her volunteer work at Hospice of Marion County. She will be greatly missed by her cousins Betty Johnson (Fred), Linda Godwin (Tony), Marjorie Williams (Gene), her nephew Steve Kane (Kiki) and Mike Needham (Julie). There will be memorial services for her at 11:00 AM on September 17, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 3453 E. Silver Springs in Ocala. She and George’s remains will be interred in Pelham, GA at a later date. She asked that upon her passing and in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Matthews Lutheran Church.