Obituaries

Joan Peake - CIA Executive Administrator

Obituary courtesy of https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/joan-peake-obituary?id=61341336

Joan Bennett Peake, of Alexandria, Virginia, passed away peacefully on April 20, 2026, in Berryville, Virginia. She was born on June 20th, 1935, in Utica, New York to Raymond and Ethel Wildhack. An only child, she grew up in a working-class neighborhood, helping her parents with a family-owned grocery store and later, a deli. This period heavily influenced her personal work ethic and creative mind.

She first met her future husband, Hayden, while attending Syracuse University, when he presented a slide show to her class. After a subsequent meeting in New York City, and a six-month courtship, they embarked on a marriage that would last sixty-nine years, with Hayden's passing preceding her own by a mere 8 days.

Their early years of marriage found them on sequential Army assignments including Germany. During that period their children, Leslie, Graham and Kelly were born. The family made the most of opportunities to travel, experience the European continent and cultures, and make lifelong memories. Once back in the US, they hopscotched Army bases and continued the adventure. She cherished time with her children and endeavored to create memorable moments. Whether sending her kids out into a warm early morning rain to splash about, taking them for a midnight swim in the lake under moonlight, or gathering the neighbors for an evening of sledding under the stars with hot chocolate and popcorn waiting in the cabin; she made events and outings special. Her children would continue to return and share special times and holidays for decades, bringing with them new generations of grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

While Joan paused an early career as an office administrator to devote full time to raising her family, when they were old enough, she returned to it, first, as a local executive administrator and then for thirty distinguished years with the CIA. During her CIA time she was the head executive administrator for the National Intelligence Council, the Agency General Counsel, and the Agency Comptroller. Her professional competence and warm demeanor won over everyone, while her reliability, dependability, versatility and easy adoption of evolving technologies made her a treasure sought after by all.

Beyond family and work, throughout her life she displayed an artist's eye and gift for creating visual artwork. She expressed herself with stained glass, painting, and woodwork, but found her true passion and special gifts when quilting. She studied quilts at conferences, clubs, and shows while developing her craft in her Old Town Alexandria home for over thirty-five years. Her award-winning and beloved quilts would hang in the CIA and remain treasured possessions in the homes of all her family and friends.

Joan is survived by her large extended family; including her children, Leslie, Graham, and Kelly, and their spouses; twelve grandchildren; and seventeen great-grandchildren, as well as a wide sphere of colleagues, and fellow members of the quilting community who had the great fortune to share time with her.

Internment, in Arlington National Cemetery, alongside her husband, Hayden, will take place on a date to be determined in 2027. A memorial service will be held in the cemetery chapel.