Jo Ann Kistler

Jo Ann Saylor Kistler was born on May 18, 1940, in Winston-Salem, NC and died on June 22, 2025, of complications due to Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

She is the daughter of the late Joseph Allen Saylor and Lila Mae Bowen Saylor. She is preceded in death by her parents and her husbands, M. Kent Holcomb, Bob A. Jones and Bobby G. Kistler, her sister Ethel Mae Saylor Callaway (Wade), her brother James Allen Saylor (Hazel), her brother George Franklin Saylor (Faye), her niece Carolyn Petty Agner (Larry), her nephews William Allen Petty and Joe Henry Saylor, and her beloved dog Carly.

She is survived by her special friend Earl Creed, son Marvin Kent Holcomb II (Deborah), her daughter Kendra Ann Holcomb (Sheila), Granddaughters Lauren Olivia Holcomb and Lillian Quinn Holcomb, and grandchildren Jared, Faith and Gabe Maksoud, and Stephen Nemec and Rachael Taylor, her devoted cat Baby and her loving nieces and cousins.

She began her life at the Long Creek Lodge Devotion, NC. The family moved to Elkin, NC in 1944 and she lived in her beloved Elkin until 1961. She played in the first tennis tournament on Elkin’s tennis court. In her lifetime she earned 4 tennis trophies. Her graduation from Elkin High School started her allegiance with the class of 1958 class reunions.

She married M. Kent Holcomb on Sept 23, 1961, and moved to Salisbury, NC as he began his career as a North Carolina State Highway Patrolman. Before leaving Elkin/Jonesville she served as President of the Jonesville chapter of the North Carolina Federation of Women’s Club and that work continued through her living in Salisbury and Statesville, NC where she volunteered for many local organizations and won awards for her accomplishments in Public Speaking. She was a very talented public speaker, and it was a gift that she shared with others for her entire lifetime.

In Statesville she began working at Iredell Orthopedics and formed the first Statesville chapter of the American Association of Medical Assistants where she went on to serve as the charter President. Her hard work was recognized by later being appointed President of the North Carolina American Association of Medical Assistants in 1981. She won many local, state and national awards while being involved with AAMA. Her work did not stop there, she next turned her attention to medical coding where she organized the first chapter of Professional Medical Coders in Statesville, NC. Her time spent in the medical coding field included teaching in the community college system for 20 years. She even wrote a 900-page medical coding textbook named “Coding Savvy” that was used in the classrooms and served as a tool to assist many medical personnel in earning their CPC credentials.

Jo loved to travel and was proud she had visited all 50 states, many places in Europe, Rio de Janeiro in South America, Mexico, Central America and Canada. Her favorite place was always North Carolina where she enjoyed all her life many visits to the Carolina Coast.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cure KCNH1 Foundation Attn: Michaelle Jinnette 1928 Wandering Road Encinitas, CA 92024. Her Granddaughter Lily was diagnosed with this rare gene disorder.

Her family would also like to express their heartfelt thanks to Assessible Home Care for providing amazing caregivers who provided compassionate care. One in particular Karen Thomas became a very dear friend. Special thanks also to Dr. Vivek Trivedi, who provided excellent care throughout her 20 years of living with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

There will be a private service at the home, and she will be cremated and buried in the Hollywood Cemetery in Elkin, NC.

Her wish for you is that may peace and love flow and may it always keep us connected~

Troutman Funeral Home is serving the Kistler family.