Joan I. Walton

Joan Blondeau Walton, age 93, died Friday, July 5 at Columbine Manor Care Center. She was born November 10, 1925 to Homer and Frances Inman in Kansas City, MO.

She graduated high school in 1942, attended junior college, and graduated from CU Boulder in 1947 with a degree in music. She was an accomplished concert pianist who wrote numerous gospel songs throughout her life.

She met her future husband, Eugene (“Gene”) John Blondeau, on a blind date in New Orleans. He was the son of a family business partner. They married in Kansas City, MO, April 22, 1950. She was a homemaker. Gene became a Boeing 727 pilot for United Airlines and flew from the old Stapleton airport in Denver. They had three sons, Jeff, Rick, andJon and moved from Boulder to Jamestown, CO in 1961. Gene was killed in the crash of United Airlines flight 266 off Los Angeles in January 1969 when their boys were 15, 16, and 17 years old. They continued to live in Jamestown for many years where she played piano for the Jamestown Community Church. February 14, 1989 she married Doug Walton and they moved to Niwot, CO. After his death she continued to live in Niwot until her health began to fail and she moved to Salida to be near family. Her faith was in her Savior, Jesus Christ, and she had a deep knowledge of the Bible. She made hundreds of baby quilts for newborns and donated them to pregnancy centers in Longmont and Salida.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, husband Gene Blondeau, husband Doug Walton, middle son, Rick, and grandson Tony.

She is survived by sons Jeff (Debby) of Salida and Jon (Leah) of Elko, NV, grandchildren Aaron (Jill) of Salida and Micah of New Ipswich, NH, Madeleine (Pete) Hanington of Elko, NV, Alex of Salt Lake City, daughter-in-law Diana Blondeau of Marietta, GA, Jeremiah of USVI, Tarrah (Nick) Zomer of Holly Springs, GA, and 10 great grandchildren.

There was cremation by Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home. The family will hold a private ceremony at a later date.

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