Joán Charlene Groom

Joán Charlene Groom passed away peacefully at Willowbend Memory Care in Denton, Texas on September 16, 2026. Joán was born in Cameron, Missouri on February 4, 1941. She was an accomplished musician who began studying piano at the age of 4. She earned her Bachelor of Music from Oberlin College where she studied composition and piano. Joán earned a Master of Music degree in composition from Eastman School of Music in 1964, followed by a PhD in music composition in 1973. Dr. Groom taught music theory at Cottey College in Nevada, MO, Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, NC and at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX from 1973-2013.

During her junior year abroad in Salzburg, Austria she purchased a Volkswagen bus which she used as a shuttle to take the other students to various locations. She brought the bus back to the US on a ship. She spent a summer in Fontainebleau, France to study theory and composition with the famed composer Nadia Boulanger. While a student at Eastman School of Music, she tuned their pianos. She was very proud of the fact that she had absolute pitch recognition.

Joán was small airplane pilot and frequently said it would be a great day to be “punching clouds”. She gave generously of her time and resources in the Denton community, serving St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity and other non-profit organizations, many times as an anonymous donor.

A dear friend stated that Joán “has always been a beacon of knowledge, inspiration and companionship in my life. I loved her dearly and will miss her terribly.”

She is survived by her stepdaughters, Darby Binder and Julie Sevier (Steve), her grandchildren Heidi Binder, Ryan Binder, Levi Mitchell, Brett Sevier and Torie Sevier, as well as several great-grandchildren and many dear friends whose lives she touched. She was predeceased by her parents, J. Charles and Mattie Jo Groom and her former husband, R.W. Thornton.

A memorial service for Joán Groom will be held at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 10:00 am.

Memorial donations may be made to Denton Community Food Center, Our Daily Bread or St. Andrew Presbyterian Church.