Joan Windmiller

Joan Windmiller MD, age 90, died peacefully February 24, 2023. Dr. Windmiller was born October 24, 1932, in Fort Worth, Texas the only child of Hazen E. Windmiller and Rosalyn M. Baker. Joan graduated from Texas Christian University in 1955 and entered (now known as) University of Texas Southwestern Medical School from which she graduated in 1958.  She went on in her medical education to be Board Certified in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.  Prior to the early 1960s there was little treatment specific to childhood cancers.  Dr. Windmiller was one of the pioneers on the teaching staff of Children’s Medical to develop a pediatric Hematology-Oncology program in Dallas. Dr. Windmiller would also go on to be on staff at John Peter Smith Pediatric Center and Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth. After her retirement she continued to contribute to medical education by teaching in the Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Windmiller also proudly served on the Board of the A.W. Harris Faculty Club UT Southwestern where she enjoyed entertaining family and friends.

Joan Windmiller and her partner Dr. Kathryn Willis moved to Itasca in the 1970s to enjoy country living even as they continued their medical careers in Dallas and Fort Worth.  There they built a home which would showcase their interests in gardening, native plants, and wildlife conservation.  Joan shared her vast knowledge of gardening as a frequent speaker to many garden clubs throughout Johnson and Hill County. Because of her particular love for growing and consuming peppers she became affectionately known as Dr. Pepper to her audiences.

Joan’s family and friends will remember her keen intelligence, boundless energy, love of poetry and limericks, appreciation of chocolate and well-made shoes, passion for social justice, her hearty laugh, her loyalty to the Dallas Cowboys and TCU Horned Frogs football teams and affinity for wildlife creatures.

Dr. Joan Windmiller was preceded in death by her partner of more than fifty years, Dr. Kathryn Willis; nephews and nieces Bob and Carmelina Holloway, Bill Crouch and Molly Crouch Anderson. She is survived by nephews and nieces Mike Crouch, Joe and Monica Crouch, Bill and Suzzi Marquis, Tommy and Sally Crouch and many Holloway and Crouch great-nieces and great nephews whom she adored. She is also survived by friends and faithful caregivers Imelda Mendoza and Merced Rodriguez. A family memorial service will be held at a later date.