Joy Lee Townsend Westbrook

Joy Lee Townsend Westbrook, age 92, of Benton passed away peacefully on January 23, 2019 at Saline Memorial Hospital. Born Joy Lee Townsend on August 20, 1926, the second child and first daughter of Carlie Lee Townsend and Emma Jean Myers Townsend in Willow, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Thomas Edward Townsend, M.D. of Pine Bluff; a little sister, Billy Dove Townsend. Joy lost the love of her life, Aaron C. "Happy" Westbrook, Jr., her husband of 63 years on June 15, 2014. She is survived by two sons, Jeff Westbrook (Karen) of Tull and Curtis Westbrook of Benton; three grandchildren, Lt. Colonel Lance Westbrook (Tyler) of Toano, Virginia, Cameron Westbrook and April Westbrook of Nashville, Tennessee; one great granddaughter, Emery Catherine Westbrook of Toano, Virginia; five nephews and five nieces. Joy graduated from Gurdon High School in 1944. In the summer of 1944, Joy and several friends volunteered for service in the United States War Department in Washington, D.C. Joy worked in the newly completed Pentagon Building as a clerk/typist, writing notifications to families about their service members. About a year later she returned to Bauxite, Arkansas, where her parents were living. Joy enrolled at Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia in the fall of 1946. She pledged Alpha Sigma Tau sorority and was elected to the Homecoming Court in 1947. Joy was a member of Reddie Oracle staff, which was the campus newspaper. Joy left Henderson to work for the Arkansas Power and Light Company at Bauxite. She met Happy Westbrook of Benton in 1949 and married June 22, 1951 at the Bauxite Methodist Church. Making their home in Benton, they started a family with the birth of Jeff in 1952 and Curtis in 1959. Joy started working for the Bauxite and Northern Railway in 1955 and worked there for approx. 15 years. Joy was also a volunteer for Saline Memorial Hospital Auxiliary for many years. Joy also helped with CJOHN. She was an early member of the Benton Talisman Club, where she had many lifelong friends and good times. Joy was a member of Benton First United Methodist Church for 67 years. Joy never met a stranger and with her smile and conversation, no one who met her ever forgot her. Chapel Memorial services by Ashby Funeral Home will be 2 p.m. on Monday with Rev. Randy Reed officiating. Visitation will be 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. before services. Family comments: We thank from our hearts the present and past staff of Four Seasons Assisted Living for making the last two years and nine months a wonderful time. It was her home. On line guestbook at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.