Joy Fitch Larson

Joy Fitch Larson, 88, of Santa Barbara, died January 19, 2012 in Santa Barbara after a short illness. Joy was born October 26, 1923 on her grandfather’s farm near Atlanta, Nebraska, the daughter of Arthur and Myrtle Fitch. The family moved to Monrovia, CA when she was a year old. When she was nine, they moved to North Platte, Nebraska, and later to Goodman, Missouri where she attended High School and graduated at age 16. She then attended Chillicothe Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri where she broke the college’s records for speed typing. On graduation she was hired by H.T. Poindexter & Sons in Kansas City, Missouri, and later became the Secretary to the President of the company. On New Year’s Day, 1944, Joy married Rev. E. Arthur Larson, Jr. a young minister of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Later that year the couple was appointed as Youth Directors for the Midwest District, headquartered in Denver, Co. In 1950 they were chosen as Youth and Education Directors for the Southern California District and lived in Echo Park and La Crescenta. In 1954 Rev. Larson became the pastor of the Santa Barbara Foursquare Church. In 1959, her husband switched vocations, becoming a Building Contractor, and Joy started working for Luria Development Company of Santa Barbara. She retired after working as Eli Luria’s secretary for approximately 30 years. Joy was an avid reader, a talented pianist and accompanist, artist and writer. She had the patience of a saint. She had several religious plays published, and a Daily Devotions book, “Soaring: Helps for Higher Living.” She was the Governor of the Santa Barbara Colony of the Mayflower Society from 1979 – 1982. She and her husband loved to travel, taking many cross-country trips and several excursions to other countries. Survivors include her husband of 68 years, Edwin Arthur Larson Jr. of Santa Barbara, daughter Arthea Joy Larson of Pasadena and sister, Olive Elaine Vinzant of Moline, Illinois, a niece, three nephews and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, John Thomas Larson, sister, Genevieve Fitch, and brother, John DeWitt Fitch. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 28th at the Welch-Ryce-Haider mortuary, 15 East Sola Street at 1 p.m. To send online condolences, visit wrhsb.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the either the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel or Christian School of Santa Barbara.

Joy Fitch Larson

October 26, 1923 - January 19, 2012