JoAnne Spaulding Bagnell, beloved wife of the late University of Pennsylvania football legend and College Football Hall of Fame member Francis "Reds" Bagnell, passed away on Thursday, February 13, 2020 due to complications from Alzheimer's.

Mrs. Bagnell is survived by her children; William R. Bagnell, (Elizabeth) of West Chester, PA & Mount Pleasant, SC and Elizabeth Hemenway of Mullica Hill, NJ, and, 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

JoAnne was born in Washington, DC on January 5 ^th , 1929 to the late Elsie and Roy D. Spaulding of Arlington, VA.  She is predeceased by her husband, Francis J. "Reds" Bagnell, and her brother, Roy Spaulding. Her father served as a "G-Man" during prohibition for the U.S. Department of Defense and later went on to become one of the prominent distributors in the country for the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, serving all branches of the United States Armed Forces globally.

Mrs. Bagnell graduated from George Washington University in 1950. While at college, JoAnne met her future husband during a University of Pennsylvania football game weekend in the fall of 1948. Although already "pinned" to one of Mr. Bagnell's fraternity brothers at the time, JoAnne and Reds immediately clicked and began a 40 plus year romance.

After receiving her diploma, Mrs. Bagnell went on to work in government and policy positions in the nation's capital, including several years at the Federal Bureau of Investigation as United States House of Representatives Special Assistant and Researcher for former FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover. After marrying Mr. Bagnell in 1954, the couple started a family and moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia where JoAnne became an elementary school teacher at the Booth School.

A lifelong resident of Gladwyne, PA, JoAnne was an avid golfer, winning numerous women's championships as a member of the Philadelphia Country Club. From 1983 to 1986, Mrs. Bagnell was Head Coach for the Episcopal Academy Boys Golf team – the private school in Newtown Square, PA attended by her son and several grandchildren. JoAnne was active in a number of local organizations and donated her time to several charities in Philadelphia, including the Penn Museum; The Union Leagues Youth Work Scholar program and the Children's Crisis Treatment Center (CCTC).

Known to many as "Mrs. Bags" and to her grandchildren as "Mimi," JoAnne was a loving mother, wife, grandmother and friend. Those closest to her will always remember JoAnne's love of travel, her longtime friendship and support of the late President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara; her signature style and grace, an unwavering commitment to family, and a true zest for life.

A celebration of JoAnne's life will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 11:00 AM in the Class of 1944 Chapel at The Episcopal Academy, 1785 Bishop White Drive, Newtown Square, PA. Interment is private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in JoAnne's name can be made to the following organizations: The Episcopal Academy / Chaplin's Fund - 1785 Bishop White Drive, Newtown Square, PA 19073 or to Children's Crisis Treatment Center – 1080 N. Delaware Ave., Suite 600 Philadelphia PA 19125.