Turlock resident, Joan Varner, passed away Monday, September 28, 2015 in Modesto. She was 78.

Joan was born February 14, 1937 to Gilbert and Daisy Deckard in Buffalo, Missouri. When she was six months old, her family moved to Turlock. Growing up she attended country schools, Hawthorne Elementary and Turlock High School. 

In 1958 Joan married her loving husband, Ron Varner and moved to Santa Barbara, where Ron was a student at the UC. There Joan worked for Santa Barbara News Press and Ron worked at the Santa Barbara Biltmore. After Ron’s graduation in 1959, the couple returned to Turlock to raise their family. They had three children, Susan, Brooks, and Alec.  

Between 1966 and 1969, she worked for the US Postal Service becoming the first full time woman mail carrier in Turlock. In 1971 she began working for the American Automobile Association. She retired from their underwriting department in 1997. As her children were growing up, she enjoyed frequent ski trips, camping, and helping her children through scouting and school activities.

After retirement Joan and Ron enjoyed travelling throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico and in recent years Joan and Ron continued to enjoy frequent trips to the Tahoe/Reno area.

In the last few years Joan enjoyed home life –sewing, cooking and visiting their children and grandchildren. Most of all she was a loving mother and wife.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband of 57 years Ron Varner, children, Susan Varner, Brooks Varner, Alec Varner, grandchildren, Matthew Varner, April Varner, Ian Varner, Lauren Movlai, and Anna Fehr.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 8, at 11:00 a.m. at Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N. Soderquist Rd., in Turlock, with interment to follow in Turlock Memorial Park. Visitation is available the same day, before the service, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

www.turlockmemorialpark.com