Joan Lee Walton

Blue-eyed and blonde, Joan Lee Barnhouse came into the world January 10, 1938 in Twin Falls, Idaho, where she was to be a lifelong resident. The first child of Brooks and Maude Barnhouse, Joan was described by her mother as a “small adult” who enjoyed playing school with her dolls and was trusted to run errands to the market at age three. She adored her aunts and uncles and loved playing with her cousins on both her mother’s and father’s side. Joan studied piano from age five, became an excellent sight-reader and always chose sheet music when offered her choice of a treat on Saturday shopping trips. As a young girl she played piano and sang on the radio and later modeled. Joan enjoyed school and admired her teachers, including Miss Evelyn Carey and Mrs. Ellen Brose, George Walton’s aunt. From a very young age Joan was naturally conscientious and considerate and always strove to follow rules and etiquette, be honest, work hard and please her parents and family. She was active in Job’s Daughters as a teenager, enjoyed friends and dating and became a baptized member of the First Christian Church at age 15, continuing as a member and Sunday school teacher for 66 years. Joan attended Washington School and Twin Falls Junior High and was in the first class to spend all three years at the new Twin Falls High School on Filer Avenue, graduating in 1956. She was chosen for Girls’ State in high school, which was held at the College of Idaho in Caldwell. Following graduation she studied education on scholarship at C of I, where she became a member of the Sigma Epsilon sorority, sang in the first C of I choir to tour through California, earned her teacher’s certificate and got engaged to fellow choir member and student George Walton of Hansen, to whom she was married for 60 years.  Starting at age 20, the now Mrs. Joan Walton taught second grade for two years at Harrison Elementary in Twin Falls, returned to the College of Idaho to earn her B.A., gave birth to daughter Lori Ann and lived two years in Bellevue, Idaho, where George taught school. In 1964 the small family moved to Twin Falls and bought a house on Granada Circle, where Joan would live for 55 years. In Twin Falls George taught high school and Joan worked part time as a bookkeeper for her father at Dean Motor Company and frequently served as a substitute teacher while raising Lori and son Christopher, who was born in 1965. As a young mother, Joan enjoyed traveling around the west with her family in a small camper, occasionally vacationing with her brother Dean’s family in Oregon. She sang soprano in church, excelled at cooking, baking and canning, dutifully decorated many family gravesites each Memorial Day and was known for always remembering birthdays, anniversaries and major and minor holidays with a card. Joan began teaching again at Morningside Elementary in 1975 and taught third grade there for 26 years while participating as an active parent for school, Blue Birds, Campfire Girls, Job’s Daughters, Boy Scouts and DeMolay and making daily visits to her parents’ home. At Morningside Joan was known for her organization, long hours, persistence and carrying a giant purse filled with the solution for any emergency. She adored puppies, kittens and babies in general and cared for many pets, including several miniature schnauzers. She loved classical and easy listening music, the color blue, lobster, a good relish tray, spending time at the family cabin on the Snake River near Hagerman and attending annual camping reunions with her cousins on her mother’s side for more than 30 years. Following their daughter’s extended illness, Joan and George raised their grandsons, Geoffrey and Steven Gable, from infancy through adulthood. After retiring from teaching in 2001, Joan participated in and served as secretary of the local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, played piano for church services, served as the church secretary and authored and designed the church newsletter and bulletins for many years, chauffeured and ran errands for a number of shut-ins, helped conduct worship services at Heritage Retirement Center and participated in the Twin Falls High School Over 50’s reunions. She enjoyed wearing jewelry created by her daughter-in-law, adored her husband, family and friends and was always proud to talk about their accomplishments and lives. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter and one grandson. She is survived by her husband George of Twin Falls, brother Dean (Darlene) of Bend, Oregon, son Christopher (Deborah) of Boise, grandsons Steven of Twin Falls and Cruz of Boise, granddaughter Claire (James Callahan) of Boise and great-granddaughter Nia of Boise.