April Juanita Garrett Walstad, 94, of Joplin, Missouri, passed away at home on Wednesday, November 19, 2014.
She was born in Atlanta, GA on April 12, 1920, the daughter of Nena (Lowe) Garrett (Ponder) and Ora Garrett, and was raised in Canton, GA. She played basketball and participated on the debate team at Canton High School. She attended Shorter College in Rome, GA and went on to coach speech and debate students in Jessup, GA. In any family discussions, her well-honed debate skills served her well!
In 1941, she entered the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, known as the WAACs. She was stationed in South Bend, IN, where she met the handsome Orlow Medwin (Wally) Walstad. They married in 1942, and eventually moved to Joplin after WWII.
She was a past President of her PEO chapter, and an active member of the First Presbyterian Church. She did substitute teaching in Joplin while raising her children. She and Wally enjoyed traveling to Hawaii and other places. They were devoted to their family.
She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-seven years, Orlow Medwin Walstad, Sr.; and her brother, J.O. Garrett.
Juanita is survived by her five children, Orlow Medwin Walstad, Jr., and wife, Knoxie, of Atlanta, Georgia, Joe Garrett Walstad and wife, Marti, of Rome, Georgia, Dr. August Stephen Walstad and wife, Dana, of Joplin, Missouri, April Nena Walstad of Santa Barbara, California, and John Howard Walstad and wife, Shelly, of Edmond, Oklahoma; five grandchildren, Win Walstad, April Blair Burson, Carlton Walstad, Whitney Donley and Chelsey Raley; ten great grandchildren; as well as a host of other family and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Walstad are 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 25, 2014 in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church in Joplin, Missouri, with Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess officiating. Private family internment will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Webb City, Missouri. Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers are Win Walstad, Carlton Walstad, Turner Burson, Lance Donley, Russell Raley, and Dan Scott. The family will receive friends on Monday evening from 5-7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin. Memorials are being directed to First Presbyterian Church and contributions may be left at the mortuary. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through www.thornhilldillon.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri.
The family wishes to thank the caregivers who gave such loving care and helped her enjoy the last two years of her life.
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