Joan Ann Ditson

AUSTIN, Texas – Joan Ann Ditson, 85, of Austin, Texas, formerly of Kennebunk, Maine, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2025. She was born on Feb. 18, 1940, in Buffalo, NY, the daughter of Clarence W. and Ruth M. (Snyder) Rosehart.

Joan grew up in East Aurora, NY, and graduated from Cornell University in 1961 with a degree in Home Economics. She later earned a Master’s degree in Family Studies from Michigan State University.

Joan married Robert “Bob” Ditson in 1967. The couple lived in Utica, NY, before Bob’s work took them to Grayling, Mich., where they welcomed their son Mike. The Ditson family lived in Ann Arbor and Lansing through the 1970’s and early 1980’s. Joan taught preschool and kindergarten in Michigan, and later joined the faculty at Michigan State University. In 1986, the family moved to Burke, Va., while Bob worked in Washington, D.C. before retiring. The family then moved to Kennebunkport, Maine, where Joan and Bob owned and operated the Fontenay Terrace Motel from 1986 to 1999. They then settled in neighboring Kennebunk and shared a loving partnership until Bob’s passing in 2005.

In 2008, Joan married Melvin Uchenik, and they enjoyed their time together in Kennebunk until his passing in 2020. Joan was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, survived by her son Michael Ditson and daughter-in-law Shelley Schmoker of Austin, Texas; granddaughter Kerry Ditson; brother George Rosehart and sister-in-law Donna Rosehart; niece Stephanie Rosehart; nephew Scott Rosehart; and Mel’s children, Anne and David Uchenik.

In 1984, as part of her Master’s degree work, Joan published the article “Use of a Home-based Microcomputer to Analyze Community Data from Reported Cases of Child Abuse and Neglect,” which appeared in the Journal Child Abuse and Neglect, Vol. 8. Joan’s study became the basis for a grant from the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect for the development of “A Uniform Software System for Child Abuse Prevention and Evaluation Planning.” The research is thought to be one of the first uses of a personal computer to study this type of data, and has been cited in new research as recently as 2019. Joan frequently described this as “The most important work I did in my life.”

Joan was committed to her community. Early in her career, she worked six years for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service. That work included a recurring role on TV for a public access channel teaching practical home economics to viewers. In later years in Kennebunkport, she was actively involved in the Mothers Club, volunteered at the Kennebunk Elementary School library, and served as a Director for Waban (now Waypoint). Her warmth, generosity, and dedication touched many lives.

In 2020, Joan moved to Austin to be close to her son and daughter-in-law. She lived two miles away from them in a vibrant senior home, where she made friends, embraced the community, and enjoyed beautiful sunsets each evening. Throughout her life, and everywhere she lived, Joan developed and grew meaningful friendships. Many of those family friendships have lasted more than fifty, sixty, and even eighty years! Always a “planner,” Joan left a message to family and friends to be shared after her passing. “I love you all! I have had a good life.”

In lieu of flowers,

donations may be made to:

Waypoint

(https://waypointmaine.org/) or to:

Kennebunk Library

(https://kennebunklibrary.org/) or to:

Mary’s Walk

(https://maryswalk.org/)