JOEL CHARLOTTE TROUT

Joel Charlotte Trout, resident of Ponca City, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, at Ponca City Medical Center. She was 87.
She was born March 22, 1923, in Garden City, Kan., to William H. Fant and Laura Charlotte Blanke Fant. She grew up on her parent's farm and graduated from Garden City High School in 1941. After attending Garden City Junior College for two years, she went to the University of Kansas where she graduated in 1945 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism. During her years at KU, Joel was only the second female to be selected as editor-in-chief of the Daily Kansan, the college newspaper, and she was a member of KU Marching band in only the second year girls were admitted to their ranks. She was a member of Theta Sigma Phi National Honorary Journalism Sorority and Sigma Kappa Social Sorority. After graduation she moved to Ponca City and began working for the Ponca City News as a reporter and photographer for six years.
Joel married James Trout on Sept. 24, 1949, in the First Presbyterian Church in Garden City, Kan. They made their home in Ponca City, where Jim was a partner in E.M. Trout and Sons Funeral Home and Joel became a housewife and mother. They resided in their present home for 57 years.
Mrs. Trout was active in the Ponca City Music Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Pioneer Genealogy Club, American Association of University Women, the Walrus Swimming Club and the Presbyterian Church where she was an active member. She and several girlfriends from her high school formed a club called Fifteen Belles Incorporated (FBI). They stayed in close contact with each other through reunions and round robin letters throughout their lives. She was both a Blue Bird Leader and Cub Scout Leader and was on the board of directors of the Kay County Tuberculosis Association. She was a driver for Meals on Wheels for 25 years.
She loved photography and being with all of her family. She liked reading and writing letters and being outdoors. One of her fondest hobbies was traveling, a joy which she passed on to her children and grandchildren. Joel and Jim traveled to all 50 states, all of Europe and Scandinavia, Russia, Iceland, Morocco, and the Canary Islands in Africa, Turkey, Costa Rica, Mexico and Canada. Best of all, however, were the many trips to Hawaii and various Caribbean Islands with their children and grandchildren.
Joel is survived by her daughter, Elodie Reavis and husband Gary of Woodward; and her son, Bill Trout and wife Janet of Bartlesville. She is also survived by her five grandchildren: Ryan Trout and wife Emily and their daughter Molly of Jenks; Jonathan Trout and wife Ashley of Bixby; Jamie Trout of Tulsa and fiancé Adam Steidley of Catoosa; Dustin Reavis and wife Melody of Stillwater; and Katherine Womack and husband David of Stillwater. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Ernie Trout and wife Lou of Ponca City; sisters-in-law Louise (Mrs. Jack) Trout of Ponca City and Phyllis Gehrig and husband Bob of Carmichael, Calif.; and six nieces and one nephew.
Preceding her in death were her husband, James; her parents; one brother, Lt. William B. Fant, who was killed during World War II; one sister-in-law, Virginia Trout; brothers-in-law, Jack Trout and Ellis Baker; and one nephew.
Memorials can be made to the Goodland Children's Home, P.O. Box 1056, Hugo, OK 74743, or Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741.