TREMONTON, UTAH Sweetheart, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and neighbor, Joan Whitworth Archibald completed her life’s journey to be with Merlin again on August 18, 2010. She was born July 30, 1934 to John Milton and Anna Shuldburg Whitworth in the old farm house in Winder, Id. Joan was the third daughter and had one older brother and three younger brothers. Her name was chosen by taking the first two letters of her parent’s names. She was educated in Malad, ID where she graduated in 1952.
She married Merlin Louis Archibald August 1, 1952. Their marriage was solemnized in the Logan Temple in 1963. Together they raised five children. When they were first married Joan worked as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell in Malad, ID and later Salt Lake City. In Tremonton she worked as a bookkeeper for Archibald & Sons and Napa Auto Parts.
Joan was a member of the LDS Church, Tremonton 9th Ward and held many positions in the Young Women’s, Relief Society organizations and as Stake Sports Director. She and her husband served two couple missions in the England Birmingham Family History Mission and in the Chicago Temple Mission.
Joan and Merlin were fans of the Utah Jazz and BYU. Mom would always say “it’s not what you have but how you take care of what you have”. She loved her grandchildren and wanted them to do well.
She is survived by three sons, Dwight (Cheryl) West Valley City, UT; Dale (Connie) Tremonton, UT; John (Rachel) North Logan, UT. Daughters Kathy Heyder (Willie) Snowville, UT, Sandra Keppler (Ted, deceased) Plymouth, UT; 22 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, two sisters: Katherine Olsen, Kaysville, UT; Kliss Sparks, Cokeville, WY; two brothers, Dean Whitworth, West Valley City, UT and Don Whitworth, Sandy, UT.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Merlin; two brothers, Roy and William (Billy); son-in-law Ted Keppler, a granddaughter, Kimberly and great grandson, Chance.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Ben, Christina, Brittini and Creighton and many others from Primrose Hospice Care for the care they have given to Joan.
Funeral services will be held Monday, August 23, 2010 11:00 am in the Tremonton Utah South Stake Center chapel 1150 South Tremont Street. Friends may call Sunday, August 22, 2010 from 5-7 pm at Rogers and Taylor Funeral Home 111 N. 100 E. Tremonton and at the church Monday, from 9:30 – 10:40 a.m. Burial will be in the Plymouth Cemetery.