Joan Shull began directing handbells in 1966 in Manhattan, Kansas. Her teachers were Dick Litterst, Mary Kettlehut, Ellen Jane Lorenz, and Don Allured, and she soon had a thriving church program. Joan immersed herself in the world of handbells, attending events annually, mentoring new ringers and directors, developing the Area VIII resource library, and serving on the Area VIII board. Joan served as historian of the Guild and wrote and edited columns and articles for the Overtones. She served as the editor of the Overtones historical volume and was most known for penning a column known as Bach, Beethoven and ? Joan also was responsible for creating the Tempo Setters videos, and co-authored the Oxford definition of handbells.
