Joan Arlene Bullock Richan
1934 – 2025
Washington, UT – Joan Arlene Bullock Richan, age 90, passed away surrounded by family and loved ones on March 6, 2025, following complications from a stroke. She was born on December 2, 1934, to Allen Kenneth Bullock and Mary Phyllis Robinson in Lethbridge, AB, Canada.
Joan grew up in Taber, AB, Canada, where she loved her childhood surrounded by her large extended family. She enjoyed memories from the farm, cold Canada winters, and playing with cousins. She was very close to her only brother Gordon, and they had many adventures together. At the age of 14, she was sad to leave all of these great experiences and move to Provo, UT, but soon met many new friends.
She attended Brigham Young High School, where she was involved in several activities including cheerleading, chorus, and student body. Joan was a graduate of the class of 1952 and briefly attended Brigham Young University. She met her eternal companion, Frederic Partridge (Pat) Richan, in Provo, and was married on November 20, 1953, in the Salt Lake City Temple.
Pat and Joan settled in West Covina, CA where their first five children were born. They loved life in beautiful Southern California and made many life-long friends. They later moved to Greeley Colorado, to further Pat’s education, and then on to Gunnison, CO, where Joan gave birth to child number six. The family eventually relocated back home to Utah where child number seven was received with great happiness.
Joan is a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many church callings through her stops in California, Colorado, and Utah. She served numerous times as Relief Society President and loved her time working with the youth in Young Women’s and Primary Presidencies. The pinnacle of her church service was the blessing of serving two full-time missions with Pat. They served as Humanitarian Directors in Romania and later supporting the church in Santa Rosa, California.
Although Joan’s dream job was to be a great mom, she had fond memories of her work as the Assistant to the Dean of General Education at Utah Valley University (Originally Utah Technical College). She loved the people she worked with and going to work every day with her sweetheart Pat. She lived through many changes in technology and embraced learning new things. She worked there for 17 years and retired in 1997. Joan and Pat eventually retired to St George, Utah where they enjoyed their time in the sunshine and red rock country.
Joan loved to sew, play the piano, travel, read, and host big gatherings. More than anything she loved making memories with her large family. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her home was always open to others and housed friends and family whenever she identified the need.
She is survived by her children, Edward Richan Orem, Utah; Pamela Snow (Scott) Washington, Utah; Lynette Pratt (Ken) Washington, Utah; Bill Richan (Janette) Mapleton, Utah; Deane Richan (Ashley) El Dorado Hills, California; Ann Metler (Rob) Tualatin, Oregon; Brenda Lonergan (Nate) Orem, Utah; 30 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren; and stepsister, Susan Smith.
Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Pat, her parents, and her brother, Gordon Bullock.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Galilee Heights Latter-day Saint Chapel located at 3167 E. 1140 S. St George, UT, starting with a viewing from 9:00 to 10:30 AM, followed by funeral services at 11:00 AM. A viewing will be held on Sunday, March 23, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at the Cascade 5th Ward Chapel 1051 E 200 N Orem, UT. A short program will follow. Interment will be at the Provo City Cemetery on March 24, 2025, at 11:00 AM.
Friends and family are invited to share condolences online at www.serenitystg.com.