Joyce Petty Townsend

She was born in Graham, Texas, on September 7, 1939, to Alford and Grace Moreland Petty, the youngest of 11 children. JoBeth graduated from Graham High School, and moved to Dallas to attend secretarial school. While there, she met and married the late John Townsend in 1959.

They moved to Austin, Texas, where John attended the University of Texas. They moved back to Dallas before moving to Seattle, Washington. They returned to the Carrollton-Farmers Branch area in 1968, where she lived the rest of her life. When she retired, she had been working at R. L. Turner High School, in Carrollton, Texas, for 26 years. After retiring, she took care of her husband, John, who suffered from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) until his death in 2004.

She enjoyed playing Bunco with friends from Turner High School. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church, Carrollton, Texas, and worked in various ministries during her many years of membership. She and her husband, John, were involved for many years in Christian Marriage Encounter, a group that sought to strengthen marriage relationships. She was an avid reader, and loved working crossword puzzles.

JoBeth is survived by 2 children, Laurie Bloodworth of Carrollton, Texas, and Linda Townsend of Carrollton, Texas; 2 grandchildren, Megan Cooper of Dallas, Texas, and Rebecca Bloodworth of Arlington, Texas; and 2 siblings, Gracie Hodges of Post, Texas, and Robert Petty of Bassett, Virginia.

She was preceded in death by her husband John, infant son Mitchell, grandson Benjamin Kilgo, her parents, 8 siblings, and several nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, September 21st, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, at Rhoton Funeral Home, 1151 S I-35E, Carrollton, Texas (Crosby at I-35E). They can be contacted for additional details at (972) 242-5261. Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 22nd at 2:00 pm, at First Baptist Church, 2400 N Josey Ln, Carrollton, Texas with graveside service to follow at Hilltop Cemetery.

Donations are being accepted in JoBeth’s memory by The Friendship House, First Baptist Church, 2400 N Josey Ln, Carrollton, Texas; and to the ALS Association (http://www.alsa.org and click on Donate) in memory of her husband, John Townsend.

Arrangements under the direction of Rhoton Funeral Home, Carrollton, TX.