Joan Crawford Huber

JOAN CRAWFORD OLNEY HUBER was born January 31,1932 in Seattle Washington, one of two daughters to Jesse G. and Margaret A. (Rowe) Crawford. She died at her Ocean Park residence on October 22, 2009 with family at her side. Joan married Ed Olney in 1951. They lived in Pullman for five years and then moved to Vashon Island in 1968 where they raised their four daughters, "The Olney Girls". Joan volunteered countless hours in community organizations as well as the schools. Joan was quoted as saying, "My entire life has been spent creating and improving opportunities for children and adults." While on Vashon Joan's efforts included serving as a Campfire leader and Day Camp co-director at Camp Sealth, Campfire Association chairperson, and attended the National Campfire Congress. In the Vashon Schools she served in the offices and in the Special Education Department; and at Camp Burton on the board of directors as well as leading the way in developing much needed procedures and training guidelines for camp. Joan married Ron Huber, Director of Camp Burton OD Vashon Island in 1977, where they continued to live for many years. As a part time employee of Camp Burton, Joan began developing programs and events and supervising health care. She was most proud of her development of a camp for mildly developmentally disabled children called HandiCamp. The camp was a big success and with that success came the development of a camp for adults. Those programs continue today at Camp Burton as New Horizons for youth and Camp Parkview for adults. While working for Camp Burton, Joan became a site visitor for the American Camping Association (A.C.A.), visiting other camps and helping them meet the safety requirements and procedures set by the A.C.A. for certification. In 1990 Joan and Ron left the Cove area of Vashon for their beach house in Ocean Park, WA. While the Island was sad to lose these two wonderful people, Ocean Park and the Ocean Park Methodist Camp celebrated the new additions to their community. It wasn't long before Joan went to work for the Ocean Park Camp where she spent 12 years as a permanent part-time employee, as they spent summers in Ocean Park and winters in Desert Hot Springs, CA. Joan's areas at camp again included program development and implementation, health care, and managing the camp store. Not long after arriving in Ocean Park she became involved with Camp Victory, a program for girls who have been sexually assaulted. Up until her death, Joan was still deeply involved with this program and passionately committed to its continuation. In 2009, Camp Victory established the Joan Huber "Grandma Lions" Fund. The money collected in this special fund will be earmarked for future outreach camps for girls and boys in other communities. The first outreach camp will begin 2010 in Houston, Texas. Joan was preceded in death by daughter Janelle Marie Olney in March of 2006. She is survived by her husband Ron Huber of Ocean Park; daughter Jannine Olney of Kent, WA, daughter and son-in-law Janette and Scott Walker of Stanwood, WA, daughter Jennifer and Josh Beaman of Vancouver, WA; step children Kathy Huber of Seattle and Russell Huber of Vashon Island; sister Jan Ray of Kent; her beloved 8 grandchildren - Jamen, Dustin, Mitchell, Josie, Nathan, Bailey, Molly, and Tanner; numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and friends. Gifts may be made to Camp Victory - Joan Huber Fund, P.O. Box 711, Ocean Park, WA 98640. The guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.