Joan Patricia Purton of Federal Way passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 12th, 2019 aged 82. Joan had suffered for the past five months from complications while receiving treatment for Acute Leukemia. Throughout her life Joan’s love of family was paramount, it never wavered and shone through to the end. She had many friends who mourn her loss and comfort her family.

Joan was born and grew up in Hemel Hempstead, England, she and her husband Derek attended the same school and, after a long courtship, were married in November 1956. In 1967 the family with daughter Karen aged 6 and son Stephen aged 4 arrived in the U.S. and settled in South King County. Joan graduated from Central Washington University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She taught for a number of years in Federal Way School District elementary schools.

Joan was an avid reader and belonged to several different book clubs over the years. She loved to travel and visited many countries especially during retirement years. Joan was a long-time member and past president of the Women’s Club of Federal Way. She was a volunteer in the Knit for Life program at St. Francis Hospital Oncology Department. Her love of nature encouraged her to serve for a short time as a docent at Woodland Park Zoo. In the last few years she had taken up water color painting which she thoroughly enjoyed and which became a source of relaxation as her health declined.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Edith Sparrow and by her daughter, Karen Lindstrom. She is survived by Derek, her husband of 63 years, her children Stephen and wife Hannah, Susan Merrill and husband Paul and five grandchildren.

A Celebration of Joan’s Life is being planned for later in the Spring.