Helen Joan (Holt) Bullock

Helen Joan (Holt) Bullock
May 29, 1933 - November 8, 2025

On November 8, 2025, Helen Joan (Holt) Bullock passed away peacefully in Raleigh, North Carolina surrounded by family. Joan was 92 years old.

Joan was born in Knoxville, Tennessee to parents Ottis Bryan Holt and Lela Francis (Brewer) Holt. The family moved to Niles, Ohio in 1936 where Joan spent the majority of her life before relocating to Raleigh, North Carolina in 2014.

A 1951 graduate of Niles McKinley High School and a proud 1954 graduate of the Youngstown Hospital Association Nursing School, Joan worked as a nurse and homemaker throughout her life.

Married to childhood sweetheart Richard Bullock since July 6, 1957, Joan was a devoted spouse, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She lovingly raised three children – Lisa Theiss (Gerald), Lynn Kittel (Jeffrey), and Bruce Bullock (Tiffani). She had five grandchildren and five great grandchildren who were the sparks of joy in her life.

A true empath, Joan felt deeply for people, but was especially passionate about the needs of children. She devoted her life to caring for others. Joan was an avid reader, a lover of classic Hollywood movies, a wizard at puzzles and trivia games, a loyal friend, and a seamstress who made most of her daughters’ clothes and her grandchildren’s Halloween costumes. She lived a life of service, organizing reunions, scholarships and activities for the 1951 Niles High School class, and she was an advocate for women’s and children’s causes until her final days.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her sister (Edith Roodhouse) and her brothers (Edward Holt and Jackie Holt).

She is survived by her beloved spouse of 68 years, Richard Lee Bullock, and her three children Lisa, Lynn and Bruce, five grandchildren (Molly Theiss Anderson (Lance), Matthew Theiss (Kendra), Taryn Kittel, Kevin Coleman (Jessie), and Quinn Van Ert (Casey)) and five great grandchildren (Josephine, Ellis, Charlotte, Bennett, and Bailey).

The family is planning a private memorial ceremony at Joan’s favorite vacation spot on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Memorial contributions can be sent to Joan’s favorite charity – St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. In addition, in honor of our caring wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, the family asks that you make the world a more compassionate place by performing an act of random kindness.