Joan Darbison was born in Atoka, Oklahoma to James Albert (Bud) and Alta Darbison on October 11, 1936 and passed from this life on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. She was the second of four children and grew up in Bentley, OK where her family worked growing and picking crops such as peanuts and cotton.
Joan loved basketball and played on the girls’ team at Atoka High School. She continued to love sports and exercise her entire life. She also excelled in academics so when it was time to graduate her math teacher who knew her potential, connected her with East Central State College in Ada, Oklahoma and she went to college on a scholarship. It just so happens that is where she was to meet the love of her life, Walter Loftis, in September when a group were watching the Miss America Pageant. They were married before Christmas! She got her bachelor’s degree in education at University of Oklahoma and Walt got his Master’s from Oklahoma State so there was an intense and fun rivalry all their lives.
Joan and Walter both became teachers and in the years between 1956-60 they had three children: Deborah Ann, Terri Lynn and Keith Ray. They moved to Moore in a brand new house with a turquoise kitchen, very stylish! They taught school there for a few years, and in 1964 decided to move to California where teachers got paid a little more. Once in Reedley, California, Joan found out she was expecting another baby, Cheryl Kay, born in 1965, and then along came the baby, Toni Sue in 1966! Finally, the family was complete. They moved into a huge older home on Reed Avenue that they (Joan), continually remodeled and redecorated, and they both taught in Reedley for many years.
Joan was honored as Teacher of the Year in Kings Canyon Unified School District twice and once achieved The Fresno County Teacher of the Year. She loved what she did, teaching kids to read, do math, explore science and music so that they loved learning also.
At home, she and Walter worked together to create a family that loved the Lord. They were examples of how to be a servant for those in need. At Dinuba church of Christ where they attended for over 60 years, Joan taught Bible class, organized women’s days and VBS, and was a mentor to the youth. Everyone knew they could count on her to make a meal for those grieving, ill, with a new baby, or celebrating a special event. She even learned how to decorate cakes and made them for weddings or showers. She and Dad showed up to support and comfort any person in the hospital or hurting.
Joan loved music and shared that love of music to encourage all the children to love music also. She even wrote a hymn called God’s Plan. It seems there was very little she could not do. She sewed for the children which ensured they could have cute clothes on every special occasion. One of her favorite things that she loved was gardening, which was something she carried from her childhood and her parents’ influence. When she and Walter retired they started taking a gardening class at the college and had a plot of land there to grow their own garden. The people with nearby plots became some of their best friends throughout those last years.
No matter what, Joan put family first and she always made sure to remember special days. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren knew how much GG loved them because she kept up with all that was going on in their lives. It was a delight for her to talk to and visit with all of them and they all felt her special love.
Joan was heartbroken when Walter, the love of her life for almost 70 years passed in 2024. She is preceded in death by her parents Bud and Alta Darbison, her sister, Norma Barnes, her husband, Walter Loftis, her granddaughter, Kristin Kay and son-in-law Steven Kay.
She is survived by her brother Larry Darbison of Ada, Oklahoma; sister Barbara Courtney of Moore, Oklahoma; daughter Debbie Kay of Cherry Valley, CA ; daughter Terri Mason(Mel) of Fresno, CA; son Keith Loftis(Elaine) of Clovis, CA; daughter Cheryl Sutton(Brett) of Las Vegas, NV; daughter Toni Ensz(David) of Reedley, CA. Grandchildren: Misty Freeman(James), Shane Mason(Darla), Nathan Loftis(Serena), Brittany Ahia(Corey), Cori Teskey(Brandon), Alissa Helm(Brenton), Austin Mason(Amanda), Jennifer Yurevich(Adam), Breann DeHaan(Bryan), Kelsey Sutton(Brian), Janel Neufeld(Ryan), Samantha Welch, Cody Ensz and 22 great grandchildren.
Services for Joan will be held on Saturday, March 14th at 10am at Dinuba church of Christ. There will be a lunch following at The Bear Club in Reedley on Manning Ave.
