Joan Rawls

Joan Wallace Rawls, a resident of Mathews, NC, passed away early Thursday morning, September 14, 2017 at the Plantation Estates Long Term Care Facility. She was 91. Joan was born in Rochester, New York, in 1926 to Howard and Onnolee Wallace and grew up in the surrounding area. She graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, in 1947, where she met her late and devoted husband of over 44 years, Thompson (Tom) Townsend Rawls, MD. Joan and Tom were longtime residents of Lighthouse Point-Pompano Beach, Florida, area where Tom enjoyed a successful practice for many years in internal medicine. Joan loved spending time with her husband and family, enjoyed good food, socializing, dancing, traveling and playing cards with friends. She had a wonderful disposition and smile that always brought laughter and smiles to a room. She is survived by her children, Nancy Rawls Baxter (Jere), Gayle Rawls Smith (Mike), Thompson Rawls (Olga) and Jonathan Rawls, and several grandchildren (John and Katie Baxter, Jarrad and Stephen Smith, Amelia Rawls Medina, and Thompson and Caroline Rawls). Joan was cremated and her ashes will be buried with her husband in a private family ceremony in Brevard, NC. The family wants to extend a special thanks to the many caregivers at Plantation Estates and the local Hospice and Palliative Care organization who showed Joan such kindness and gave her the caring, personal attention that ensured her final years were both comfortable and warm. A service to celebrate her life will be held at a later date. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made in the name of Joan to the charity of one's choice." Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Services, 1321 Berkeley Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences at www.kennethpoeservices.com.