Juanita Ann Lunceford

It is with saddened hearts that we announce the passing of Juanita Lunceford on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2025.

Juanita was born in Visalia, CA to Johnnie Irvin and Agnes Rollenhagen. Shortly after her birth, her parents moved to Texas. This is where Rheta, her only sister, was born, but by the time they were ready to start school, they were back in Visalia. She loved her early childhood as she was able to spend a lot of time with her Grandma Stewlow. Then in 1950 around Christmas time, when she was eleven, she was diagnosed with Polio. She was paralyzed from the waist down. After a few months the family moved to Sacramento to get physical therapy where she was able to learn to walk again.

She attended Stanford Jr High school, and McClatchy High School in Sacramento. She was always a quiet and shy person, so didn’t have a lot of friends. In 1956, she met the love of her life, Chuck. They dated three years before getting married in November 1959. Chuck was attending Heald Business College in San Francisco when they married, so she joined him in San Francisco where they welcomed their first child, Steven. Once Chuck graduated, they returned to Sacramento, where Karen was born and where Chuck went to work for Procter and Gamble.

Juanita was a doting mother and wife. She loved attending little league baseball games with Steve and softball games with Karen. Their house was always the house where the neighborhood kids would play. She also joined the Procter and Gamble wives bowling league for many years.

Juanita was a member of various churches over the years. She was an active member of Signal Heights Baptist Church, Grace Evangelical Free Church, Florin Baptist Church and Country Oaks Baptist Church. She was the church secretary for both Signal Heights Baptist and Florin Baptist for many years. Both Chuck and Juanita were involved with the Sunday School and Bible Studies and enjoyed the occasional outing with church members.

In 1981 they celebrated two weddings as both Karen and Steven got married, and a few years later they welcomed their first grandson, Daniel. They waited until 1995 and 1999 for their two granddaughters, Megan and Sarah. Juanita was a very loving grandmother, and she loved her grandchildren unconditionally.

In November 2009, she and Chuck celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their family and friends. Because of deteriorating health, in 2015 they moved from their home of more than 50 years, into an assisted living and memory care facility. While there, in 2017 Chuck passed away. After his passing, Juanita moved from there into a skilled nursing facility and then in with her son and daughter-in-law. She remained there until they were unable to take care of her and she was moved to a board and care home that could provide that care.

Juanita is preceded in death by her parents, husband of 57 years, Chuck Lunceford, and daughter Karen Montelbetti.

She is survived by her son Steven (Gracie) Lunceford, son-in-law Mark Montelbetti, grandson Daniel (Julie) Montelbetti, granddaughters Megan (Jose) Garcia, and Sarah Lunceford, sister Rheta Lowery, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held Thursday, March 27th from 5:00 – 8:00. The funeral service will be on Friday, March 28th at Elk Grove East Lawn at 10:00, and a celebration of life will be held in the Shasta Room at the Hilton Garden Inn from 12:30 – 4:00.