Joan G. Gombar

Joan Grace Gombar, 85, of Glen Mills, passed away peacefully after being surrounded by her loving family in her final hours. She was born on July 3, 1941, in Darby, Pennsylvania, to the late Grace Woodward Abt and the late John Abt. Joan was a lifelong resident of Delaware County.

Joan was preceded in death by her first husband of 14 years, Frank P. Witmer III, who passed away on September 30, 1976. Together, they had three children, Debbie Rausher, née Witmer (Bill), Frank Witmer (Patty), and Cindy Schofield, née Witmer (Chris).

After raising her three children as a single mother for four years, Joan was fortunate to find love again and married Bernard J. Gombar. Bernard had three children of his own, Alan Gombar (Becky), Dave Gombar, and the late Nadine Jones, née Gombar (Rich). Together, Joan and Bernard created a loving, blended family of eight. They shared 33 years of marriage before Bernard's passing on October 30, 2013.

Joan was the loving grandmother of Bill Rausher, Jr. (Staci), Laura Griffin (Ken), Matthew Witmer (Moon), Melissa Campbell (Cole), Michael Witmer, Mitchell Witmer (Alexis), Emily Auge (Phil), Rob Schofield (Abby), Nathan Gombar, Jack Gombar, and Carly Gombar. She was also blessed to be a great-grandmother to Thomas, Stella, Clara, Lucius, Liam, Peyton, Riley, Charlie, Sage, and Caden. Joan was full of joy and pride for all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved seeing her family continuing to grow.

In addition to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, Joan is survived by her brother, John Abt (Loretta), and her two sisters, Judy Deutsch and Janet Elia, brother-in-law, Thomas H. Witmer, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Family meant more than anything to Joan. She was always there for the people she loved, ready to help, to listen, encourage, and of course worry. She worried about her family’s safety, their happiness, and whether everyone was doing okay. Her family always knew they could count on her, because caring for the people she loved was simply a part of who she was.

Joan loved nothing more than having everyone together, especially around the table for holiday meals and enjoying the stories and laughter. And whether you were full or not, Joan would always insist that you hadn't had enough!

In her earlier years, Joan enjoyed spending time in Ocean City, New Jersey, and camping with her family at Whippoorwill Campground in Marmora. She could spend hours sunbathing on the beach while watching her children play in the sand and ocean. Later in life, Lake Naomi in the Poconos and Williamsburg, Virginia, became some of her favorite places. She also cherished attending the annual fall and spring festivals in Peddler’s Village with her brother and his wife.

Joan will always be remembered for her strength, perseverance, generosity, and kind heart. Life presented her with difficult challenges, including the loss of her first husband to pancreatic cancer when she was just 35 years old and the loss of her second husband after his battle with Alzheimer's disease. Joan also had health concerns of her own, but through it all, she continued to care deeply for her family and those around her, meeting life's challenges with remarkable strength.

Her greatest legacy is the family she loved so deeply and the memories she created with them. She will be forever loved, deeply missed, and always remembered by the many people whose lives she touched.

Family and friends are invited to her Visitation 10:00-11:00 AM Saturday, October 3, 2026 and to her Funeral Service 11:00 AM at The Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382. Interment Edgewood Memorial Park, Glen Mills, PA.