Joan Atwood

Joan Atwood, 84, stepped into eternity with Christ, surrounded by her children in her home, on November 1, 2011, after a courageous five-year battle with cancer. Joan was born October 10, 1927 in Mount Ayr, Iowa, to Paul and Audrey (Sefrit) Seaton. The Seaton family, including younger sister, Jean, moved to Perry, Iowa, in 1934, where they ran a successful grocery business. Joan and her family were active members of the First Baptist Church in Perry. She was baptized there in 1939. Joan attended all the Perry grade schools and graduated in 1945. She continued her education at the Northwestern Medical Technology Institute in Minneapolis, graduating in 1947. Following her graduation, she married Ronald E. Atwood, also of Perry. They lived in Ames, Iowa, while Ron attended Iowa State University. During that time, Joan was employed by McFarland Medical Clinic in Ames. Immediately after Ron's graduation in 1949, the couple moved to California. They eventually bought a home in the San Fernando Valley and raised their three children, Jeanette, James, and Janine there. Ron had a rewarding career in the aerospace industry until his retirement in 1989. Joan and Ron loved to travel, and after becoming "empty nesters," took several trips abroad in addition to visiting dozens of beautiful cities and national parks in the USA and Canada. During their 31 years living in "the valley," Joan's home church was Reseda First Baptist, where she was active in missions, women's ministries, and Sunday school. In 1982, Joan and Ron moved to Huntington Beach and made wonderful new friends there. Then in 1992, they relocated to Oceanside and made Carlsbad Community Church their new church home. Both Joan and Ron felt blessed by the friendships, fellowship, and solid Bible teaching they received at CCC. Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Audrey Seaton, her husband, Ronald Atwood, and her son-in-law, Larry Maxfield. She is survived by her sister, Jean Fish and husband, Richard, of Ankeny, Iowa; her daughter Jeanette Morris and husband, Ken, of Atascadero, CA; her son James Atwood and wife, Kathleen, of Rancho Bernardo, CA; her daughter Janine Maxfield, of Corona, CA; eight grandchildren: Ian (and wife Angela) Smalley, Aaron Atwood, Tressa (and husband Bret) Beheim, Jessica (and husband Ryan) Porsley, Anthony Atwood, Andrew (and wife Emily) Atwood, Nicholas Maxfield, and Rebecca Morris; and six great-grandchildren: Eve, Cash, Luke, Elliana, Hailey, and Adria, in addition to her niece and nephews in Iowa, their families, and a multitude of friends made and treasured during her long life's journey. A Memorial Service for Joan will be held Monday, November 7, 2011, at Carlsbad Community Church at 11:00 a.m. All are welcome. Arrangements by Eternal Hills Mortuary, Oceanside, CA Internment on November 19, 2011 at Violet Hill Cemetery, Perry, Iowa. Arrangements by Hastings Funeral Home.