JoAnn Sales

JoAnn Sales entered peacefully into eternal rest on February 20, 2026 in Edinburg, Texas. JoAnn was born Nancy JoAnn Ponder on April 11, 1939 in Buncombe County, North Carolina to George Ponder, Sr. and Edna Myers Ponder. At a young age, she and her sister Janet Ponder went to live with their grandmother Alda Myers in Weaverville, North Carolina. Shortly after graduating high school, her Uncle Max introduced her to David Sales. David and JoAnn were married soon thereafter, primarily since David had enlisted in the U.S. Navy. They would be married over 50 years until David’s death in 2013. As a Navy wife, “the hardest job in the Navy”, JoAnn went with David for many relocations and also endured much time away as David had several deployments including two tours of duty in the Vietnam War. Over a long career, they lived in Key West, Florida, Sigonella, Italy, and several stops in Texas: Beeville, Corpus Christi and finally in Kingsville, Texas where they ultimately settled after David’s retirement in 1980. They would live in Kingsville until David’ death in 2013, when JoAnn moved to McAllen, Texas. JoAnn is survived by her two daughters Janet Ryan of Tomball, Texas and Susan Turley (Gregory) of McAllen, Texas. She had 4 grandchildren, Joel Ryan, Zachary Ryan, Olivia Ryan and Sarah Joanne Turley Pitcher and 7 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother George A. Ponder, Jr. of Cleveland, North Carolina. JoAnn attended Western Carolina University for two years before she was married and studied business administration. She was very intelligent and precise and enjoyed all sorts of problem solving activities, from Jeopardy!, to crossword puzzles. In Kingsville, she was an avid birder and could easily identify the various local species. Always civically minded, she was involved in community activities in all of the places she lived, from Parent/Teacher Associations to Girl Scouts. In Kingsville, she served for a term on the Kleberg County grand jury. In McAllen, she was the President of the Resident’s Council at her apartment community. The family wishes to offer special thanks to the staff of DHR Health Hospice and the Bridges at Edinburg for their care and comfort provided to JoAnn and her family. In her memory, donations may be made to VAMOS, 800 N. Main St., # 410, McAllen, TX 78501 in support of higher education for local students.

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JoAnn Sales

February 20, 2026