Obituaries

Joan Thompson

Saturday, August 8, 2009 11:41 PM CDT

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Joan McKnight Bonds Thompson was peacefully called to be with her Lord Jesus early Friday evening, July 31, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio while awaiting open-heart surgery.

JOAN THOMPSON

Joan was born Nov. 12, 1928 in Columbus, Kan., the second child of Raymond P. and Mildred McKnight.

Her older brother was William “Billy” McKnight. Joan spent her formative years in Sapulpa, Okla., graduating from Sapulpa High School in 1946. She attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. While at the university, she was selected as the 1950 Engineering Queen.

Joan married K. Mitchell Bonds of Bondsville, Ark., in August 1951. As a result of the Bonds family purchasing additional farm land in south Arkansas, Joan and Mitchell moved to Moscow, Ark., in 1955.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents; a twin baby boy, Keith, who died shortly after birth; her brother, Billy; and in 1971, her husband of 20 years, K. Mitchell Bonds.

Joan Bonds and Sam D. Thompson of Pine Bluff, Ark., were married in September 1974. The couple retired to Hot Springs Village, Ark., in December 1997.

Joan was an active member of the Pine Bluff Junior League, as well as a sustaining member. She was a beloved member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a past president of Chapter AU in Pine Bluff and current member of Chapter CR in Hot Springs Village.

Joan’s angelic appearance expressed the completeness of her life. Her life centered around three basic elements that provided a balanced life of love, joy and happiness. She had a strong belief and faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, a deep love of and for family and the joy and happiness that comes from serving others. She was not one to impose her will, but was always ready to join in calm deliberation and participation in any worthwhile activity of family, church and community to which she was called to help.

Always active in churches where she lived, Joan worked in the nursery, was a Sunday school teacher, attended adult Sunday school classes, participated in the Pine Bluff and Hot Springs Bible Study Fellowship, faithfully attended the Woodlands Presbyterian Church Wednesday Prayer Group, played in Hand Bell Ensembles and sang in church choirs for 35 years. Joan was a deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church. She was president of the Presbyterian Women in Pine Bluff. She was especially talented in the culinary arts and was a member of the committee of First Presbyterian Church in Pine Bluff that developed “The Blessings” cookbook in 1996.

Joan was the principle partner in Joan’s Farm Limited Partnership.

Survivors include: Son, Kenny M. Bonds Jr., and wife, Christie, of Moscow, Ark.; granddaughter, Michelle Bonds, and grandson, Christopher Bonds, both of Chicago, Ill.; son, David H. Bonds, and wife, Barrett, and grandsons, Andrew Bonds and Daniel Bonds, all of Midland, Texas; Bryan A. Bonds and wife, Karen, and granddaughter, Ava Claire, of Moscow, Ark.; stepdaughter, Damara Horton and husband, Jerry, step-grandson, Jared Horton and wife, Cindy, and step-grandson, Gregory Horton and wife, Kristen, all of Little Rock, Ark.; stepdaughter, Tami Fisher of Fort Smith, Ark.; step-grandsons, Stuart Fisher of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Sam Fisher of Conway, Ark.; and nephews, Paul McKnight and wife, Sherry, of Houston, Texas and Scott McKnight of Guatemala.

A “Celebration of Life” memorial service is scheduled at Woodlands Presbyterian Church in Hot Springs Village, Ark., at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009.

In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to Woodlands Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 11 Ecuestre Drive, Hot Springs Village, AR 71909.

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