Joan Marie (Richards) Noonan

Joan Marie (Richards) Noonan, 81, Altoona, died Thursday at Altoona Regional Health System, Altoona Hospital Campus.

She was born in Altoona, daughter of the late Franklin Marion and Myrtle E. (Ehrenfeld) Richards. She married Harry J. Noonan Dec. 26, 1955, in Altoona. He preceded her in death Jan. 2, 1984.

Surviving are two sons: Donald Lee and wife, Elizabeth, of Carlisle, Iowa, and Richard Paul of Huntingdon; four grandchildren: Lindsey, Cory, Abigail and Kurtis; a great-granddaughter, Cassidy; and a sister, Marguerite Bottorff of Warren, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Franklin M. Richards Jr.

Joan was a 1946 graduate of Altoona High School and received a bachelor's degree at Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio, in 1950. She taught health and physical education in Tiffin, Ohio, then at the Altoona Area School District, retiring in 1982 after 25 years of teaching.

Mrs. Noonan was an active member of Faith United Church of Christ. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 290, and the Retired Teachers of Blair County. She had volunteered and served on the board at the Altoona Food Bank since 1982. She was a Red Cross volunteer, had served on the YWCA board in 1989, and led the senior citizens aerobic classes at the senior citizens center in Altoona.

Joan enjoyed gardening, playing Scrabble and playing pinochle in her card club.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, at Mauk & Yates Funeral Home Inc., Juniata (www.maukandyates.com), where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, 2010, Pastor John Emig officiating. Interment will be at Alto-Reste Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joan's name to the Altoona Food Bank, 2100 Sixth Ave., Altoona, PA 16602.