Joan Arden Perkins

Joan Arden Perkins
August 3, 1938 - March 16, 2026
Our beloved mother Joan Perkins has left this world for one more grand adventure. Joan passed peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of Monday, March 16, 2026 at her home in
Meadowlakes Retirement Community in Hightstown, NJ.

Born in Ft. Worth Texas, Joan was proud to be a 3rd generation Texan, and prouder still to be an American. The daughter of Russel Norman Arden Sr., a pilot for American Airlines, and
Marcia Champion Arden, a homemaker. Joan moved a lot as a child, living in Ft. Worth, TX, New York, NY, St. Joseph, MO, Manhattan Beach, CA & Portuguese Bend, CA on the Palos
Verdes Peninsula. In Portuguese Bend she owned and showed several horses, winning numerous blue ribbons in English Saddle Riding. She graduated from Chadwick High School in
1956, then graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, MO in 1958. While at Stephens she studied both art and aviation, where she learned to fly propeller planes like the DC7! Following college Joan worked as a model (hello, "Miss Santa Ana!") and as one of American Airlines' "Golden Girls" — an elite group of ground-based employees who provided a premier concierge style service to American's VIP travelers during the golden age of travel. A Golden Girl was both elegant & eloquent, with superior communication and social skills in order to interact comfortably with the airline's business leaders, celebrities and diplomats. Joan had all of that and more; it was a natural fit and she was very proud of her time with American, during which she developed her lifelong love of travel.

In 1967 Joan married her husband Dick, living in Chicago, Michigan & various parts of California before settling down for 16 years in Palos Verdes Estates, CA. Later in life Joan
traveled the world spending part of the year in Puerto Vallarta & San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, various locations in Europe and also spent several wonderful years on Providenciales
in the Turks & Caicos, BWI. Joan was an excellent cook known especially for her tacos (no,really!), crepe suzettes and the tea & crumpets (oreos & milk) she enjoyed with her four
grandsons. Joan was the consummate entertainer, often throwing all day football parties for dozens of friends where she would serve breakfast and lunch, followed by a dinner of Cornish game hens. While at Meadowlakes she frequently hosted cocktail parties for friends in her small studio apartment. Joan also loved buying & selling antiques, reading, painting, Willie Nelson, ocean cruises, and spending time with her grandsons. Joan thoroughly enjoyed every minute of her life and didn't waste any time. Nobody had more laughs or made people laugh more than she did.

Joan is preceded in death by her aforementioned parents, sister Patricia Goodman, brother Russ Arden, Jr., husband Richard Hugo Perkins (1930 - 1982), best friends Brian Webster and
Nora O'Brien, and by her cherished companion Manfred Gebhard. She is survived by daughters Arden Cody (Betsy Handlson) of St. Paul, MN and Joyce Johnson (Marc) of Jackson
Hole, WY. Joan is also survived by her most loved-in-all-the-world grandsons: Cole, Brooks, Carter & Bryce Johnson, who she called her "Trees" & who called her Graham Cracker,
Grammy, or Limmie Lu. In addition to immediate family she is survived by step-son Sabin Perkins, cousin Sharon Ford, several nieces and nephews and close friends Phil Haines, Wendy Webster and Beryl Russell. Joan's warm heart, empathetic nature, wise counsel & quick laugh made her a second mom to many who all loved her as their own. Grieving with the family
are Victoria McHugh, Kim Latchford, Heather Blume, Jan Vivian, Nadine Sidden, Anika Harry, and so many others.

Joyce and Arden are incredibly grateful to Augustina Pozos and Lucia Gomez for going beyond being caregivers to our mother. The immense love, friendship and compassion Augie & Lucy
shared with our mom was a profound love and friendship that went both ways and will forever make them an integral part of our family.

In recent years Joan suffered some health setbacks which she got through with her strong character, limitless humor, and amazing grace. Joan was loved and admired by everyone who
knew her and she will be dearly missed.

A small private service will be held by the family. In memory of her, Joan would ask that you hug and hold your family close, love your country, and find laughter in everything life brings, big
and small.