Joanne "Miss Jo" Rambo Hankins

On October 19, 2023, at the age of 95, Joanne Rambo Hankins passed away in Dallas, Texas and was welcomed into heaven by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In her life she exuded grace, service, and determination. She was loved by so many and will be greatly missed.

Joanne, also known as “Miss Jo,” was born in Iowa Park, Texas on October 8, 1928 to Alfreda Lucille Lewis Rambo and Jesse Lee Rambo. She grew up in East Texas and attended both Kilgore High School and Kilgore College. She attended Kilgore College from 1945-1947 and had the great honor of being on the 6th line of the Kilgore College Rangerettes. Being a Rangerette would mark her life from that moment on. 1947 was a big year in Joanne’s life as she graduated in May 1947 and married the love of her life, John Oda “Johnny” Hankins on October 4, 1947.

Joanne and Johnny began writing letters to each other in April 1944 while he was aboard the USS Pensacola during World War II and she was in high school. They continued writing during his war service and after he was discharged in 1946. Following their wedding in Texas they began their life together in Covina, California. They welcomed their first daughter Shirley Hankins Arredondo while in California and later their second daughter, Starley Kay Hankins in Wichita Falls, Texas. Johnny worked for Byron Jackson Oil and they lived in California, Texas, Oklahoma and Maracaibo, Venezuela. After Johnny died in May of 1958, Joanne and her two daughters returned to the Kilgore area, moving next door to her parents.

Joanne lived in the Kilgore area for the next 62 years, raising her daughters, working at Kilgore Construction Company, Service Pipe & Supply as well as Woodbine Electric and helping her parents with cattle and horses on land off Hwy 42. Joanne had a soft spot in her heart for dogs and cats and took in countless strays through the years. Joanne was a member of Eastview Baptist Church and enjoyed teaching Sunday school and serving in other areas through the years.

Joanne was exceedingly proud to be a Rangerette and supported the organization in any way she could. She was a liaison to the 1947 Rangerettes, at Homecoming in 1996 she accepted the Students of the Year plaque for the Rangerettes for the trip to the “First Annual Little Rose Bowl”, she served on the Rangerette Forevers Board of Directors 1997-1999 and 2003-2007, Homecoming Distinguish Alumna in 2014 and was a speaker for the Rangerette Showcase movie. 

A highlight of her life was being on staff at the Gussie Nell Davis Rangerette Residence from 2006-2020. She prided herself on knowing each girl by name, was quick to offer a hug or a compliment, and a story from her time as a Rangerette. She cheered on her girls at numerous football games, Christmas shows, and Revels through the years. She once said, “As a Rangerette we learned to always be a lady, to be dependable, stand tall and show your personality. I have always been proud to say I was a Kilgore College Rangerette.”

Since 2020, Joanne has lived closer to family in McKinney but she made it back to Kilgore as often as she could. She never tired of thanking the Lord for her many blessings, her friends, and her family.

Joanne is survived by her daughter, Shirley Hankins Arredondo of McKinney, her grandson, Jordan Arredondo of Austin as well her granddaughter Carley Arredondo Butts and her husband Mike; great grandchildren, Ryan, Darcy, and Dylan, of Dallas.

A visitation for Joanne will be held at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore, Texas on Thursday, October 26, 2023 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. Funeral services will be held at the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore on Friday, October 27, 2023 at 4:00pm with Chaplain Wayne Norvell officiating. Burial will follow at Kilgore Cemetery.

Memories of Miss Jo can be shared at missjo.memories@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Joanne Rambo Hankins “Miss Jo” Rangerette Scholarship. To give visit: https://giving.kilgore.edu/give-to-a-scholarship.