Joan Louise Pore

Joan L. Pore of Salisbury, NC, passed away on August 11, 2026. Born July 12, 1931, in Altoona, PA, she was the daughter of the late Bernard E. Frey and Jane (Gruver) Frey. She was the wife of N. Arthur Pore, predeceased in 2020, to whom she was married for almost 70 years.

Joan graduated from Altoona High School in 1949 and from Penn State University in 1953 (BS in Medical Technology). Joan and Art met in their first year at the Altoona Penn State Center, marrying in 1950 and moving to the Penn State campus at State College. After their daughters were older, Joan attended the University of Maryland for teacher preparation and earned her MS of Secondary Science Degree. She became a secondary science teacher in the Montgomery County MD schools for 15 years, teaching earth sciences.

She was a volunteer in many capacities: Gray Lady NIH, church programs, Girl Scout leader, docent at St. Mary’s City historical sites and the Calvert Marine Museum in Southern Maryland. She also served as a volunteer at the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge and the Health Park Hospital in Ft. Myers, FL in the winters. In Gettysburg she served as a volunteer for over 20 years at the Gettysburg National Military Park in various positions, as a docent at the Seminary Ridge Museum and as a collection organizer at the Adams County Historical Society.

Joan and Art enjoyed dancing: ballroom, square and round, and traveling with their travel trailer with the Dancing Nomads Square Dance Club, as well as many other trips. They retired in 1983 and moved from Silver Spring, MD to St. Mary’s County, MD, living in a water-oriented community for 9 years. In 1992 they moved to Lake Heritage in Gettysburg, PA. They enjoyed water-related and social activities there.

Joan was a member of Gettysburg Presbyterian Church where she served as Chair of the Historic Church Walking Tours, Co-Chair of the Burden Bear Sewing Program benefiting local hospice patients and was a member of the group that wrote notes to church members.

In January 2019, Joan and Art moved to Salisbury, NC, and lived at the Oak Park Retirement development. Joan recently moved to Brookdale of Salisbury.

Joan is survived by her daughters, Jackie Shaw (husband Danny) of Salisbury, NC and Sandie Dugan (husband Tom) of Rockville, MD; by 5 grandchildren: Danny Shaw, Jr. (wife Cristi) of Marion, NC; Kristen Helmbold (husband Andy) of Salisbury, NC; Brian Shaw (wife Jessica) of Salisbury, NC; Tom Dugan III (wife Kacey) of Arlington, VA and Matt Dugan (wife Karita) of Princeton, NJ. She is also survived by 9 great grandchildren: Ben and Lily Shaw of Marion, NC; Andrew and Reagan Helmbold and Brody and Delaney Shaw of Salisbury, NC; Clara and Natalie Dugan of Arlington, VA and Aurora Dugan of Princeton, NJ. Joan had one sister, Judy Frey, predeceased.

Arrangements are being handled by the Neptune Society of Charlotte, NC. A private inurnment service will be held in the Evergreen Cemetery in Gettysburg, PA.

Joan’s family would like to thank the staff at both Oak Park Retirement Community and Brookdale Assisted Living Community in Salisbury, NC, for the love and care that were extended to Joan. Also, the care and support we received from the staff of Carolina’s Caring Hospice have been invaluable.