Joan Stansbury Petty

To my cherished family, my steadfast friends, my globe-trotting co-conspirators, my fellow art and museum enthusiasts, and especially those who shared the best tables with me: thank you for the utterly splendid journey. What a delightfully long lunch it turned out to be. Cheers—Phil and I will save you a seat at the next one.

Joan Stansbury Petty passed away peacefully in her home in Corona Del Mar, CA, on March 7, 2026 at the age of 88 years.

Her first 7 years were spent in rural Jewell County KS, including the one-room schoolhouse experience, and she remained close to cousins and friends from the North branch community throughout her life. Her family moved to Burr Oak, KS for two years, and then to Humboldt, NE, where Joan graduated from high school, earning the Regents Scholarship to the University of Nebraska.

She graduated from the U. Of Nebraska in 1959, taught math in Overland Park, KS one year, and then moved to Orange County, CA, where she lived the rest of her life. There she met a brilliant and interesting man, Phillip Petty, and they were married n 1962.

She taught a few more years in CA, and after earning a Masters Degree in math at Stanford University she did exciting work in Irvine, CA, with a noted scientist, Dr. Patrick Hanratty, "the Father of Cad-Cam" (Computer Aided Design).

Most of the last half of her life was spent volunteering; supporting arts, especially music and museums; hand-writing communications with a multitude of family and friends; and traveling. She especially cherished seeing the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu in Peru, and the polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Wesley Stansbury and Elizabeth Beeman Stansbury, and by her husband, and survived by many loving nieces, cousins, friends, and her brother, John.

In memory of Joan, contributions may be directed to one of the following organizations she cared deeply about:

Humboldt Auditorium Restoration — Joan supported this project faithfully each year since 2012 and visited often. Donations may be sent to Friends of Humboldt Auditorium, P.O. Box 395, Humboldt, NE 68376.

The Nature Conservancy — A global organization protecting the lands and waters on which all life depends. Donations may be made at nature.org/donate.

Share Our Selves — A nonprofit serving Orange County, CA, residents in need through medical care, food assistance, and essential social services. Donations may be made at shareourselves.org.