JOAN EDWARDS MALCOLM

Joan Edwards Malcolm was called to her eternal home on Thursday, April 10, 2025. She peacefully passed away in her sleep, surrounded by her family, after being on hospice for a few days.

Joan was born in Tampa, Florida, on November 25, 1947, to a Southern Baptist preacher and his wife. Her family moved to Arizona in 1952, but not before making a stop in North Carolina to say goodbye to relatives—a farewell that ended up lasting nine months! They first arrived in Tucson, Arizona, and then soon relocated to Bisbee. A few years later, in 1956, they moved to Laveen. By 1959, the family made their way to California, settling in the Coachella Valley. At the age of 14, she began dating the love of her life, Denis Malcolm, a local lifeguard at the city pool and a member at her church. Her family finally settled in Indio in 1963, just in time for her junior year of high school. She graduated from Indio High School in 1965 and, that fall, moved to Riverside to attend California Baptist College. On February 4, 1967, at the age of 19, she and Denis were married. She went on to graduate from CBC in 1969.

On September 1, 1969, she began her teaching career with Riverside Unified School District as a 5th grade teacher at Liberty Elementary. In 1973 she moved to Highgrove Elementary, teaching 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. She earned her Master’s in Education from Cal State San Bernardino in 1984. Two years later, she began teaching 3rd grade at Mt. View Elementary. In October 1994, she became a Teacher on Special Assignment, serving as Assistant Principal at Washington and Woodcrest Elementary Schools. In 1995 and 1996, she continued as a TOSA AP at Washington and Highgrove. In 1997, she returned to the classroom to teach 3rd grade at Rivera Elementary. She retired in 2006 after a 37 year career, positively impacting hundreds of students.

Joan was a faithful servant of the Lord her entire life! She was an active member at Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church in Riverside for 57 years. For 55 of those years she taught Sunday School, leading 3rd-7th graders in that time. In addition to teaching, she also directed and taught Girls in Action, taught VBS, and sang in the choir. Her love for the Lord and for teaching others was evident in everything she did

Joan cherished spending time with her husband, daughter, and son, especially on family camping trips to Hurkey Creek and South Carlsbad State Beach. Every summer, they looked forward to road trips in their motorhome, traveling to favorite spots like Pinetop, AZ; Glorieta, NM; and El Paso, TX. With her grandchildren, she enjoyed trips to SeaWorld and Disneyland. Joan found great joy in spending time with her family.

Beloved mother to daughter Andrea (Malcolm) Noble and son Jonathan Malcolm, adoring grandmother to granddaughter Timmery Noble and grandson David Griffith. Also survived by her sister Patsy Hjalmarson, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles.

She will be missed, but we have the assurance through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that those who believe in Him will see her again. Please join us in celebrating her life.

The family will greet friends at the visitation at Akes Family Funeral Home Friday, May 2 from 5:00pm-8:00pm

Celebration of Life Service at Magnolia Church on Saturday, May 3,  at 3:00pm, a time of fellowship with family and friends, will follow.

Interment at Riverside National Cemetery Monday, May 5 at 10:30am

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Akes Family Funeral Home, Riverside, California.

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