Greensburg, IN - Thelma Joan Hamer, 94, of Greensburg, passed away at 5:37 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026, at Columbus Regional Hospital. She was born at home in Harper, Indiana on August 20, 1931, the daughter of Charles Eugene and Thelma Marie (Peacock) Cox. She was a lifelong resident of Decatur County and a 1949 graduate from Jackson Township High School and attended Indiana University in Bloomington.

She has been a private piano teacher since 1960. She was a member of Union Baptist Church. Joan enjoyed quilting, playing piano and teaching piano, walking and making homemade noodles. Joan married James Marvin Hamer on March 18, 1951

at Union Baptist Church. He preceded her in death on June 1, 1999. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Maureen Bennett of Merrillville; her sons, Rick Gene (Michelle) Hamer of North Vernon and Gary Raye (Sandy) Hamer of Greensburg, along with her 6 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jim; her daughter, Marilyn Kaye Myers; her brother, Robert Cox; her son-in-law, Ernest Robert; her granddaughter, Amerika Racquel and her grandson, Andrew Hamer. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on June 5, 2026, at Bass & Gasper Funeral Home in Westport with Pastor Steve Bell officiating. Burial will follow at Union Baptist Cemetery. A time of visitation will be held on Thursday, June 4 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Union Baptist Cemetery through the funeral home. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.bassgasper.com