Joan Andrea Dwinnell

The ever kind, gracious, people and dog loving, Joan Dwinnell, left to go home to God, on March 17, 2022. Her friends and family in heaven will welcome her, especially Joan’s husband, Dr. Frank Dwinnell, Jr., who pre-deceased her in 2014, and her sister, Catherine Eckmann, in 2015. She is survived by Catherine’s adult children, Ted Eckmann and Kimberly McClung (Neill), and one sister, Annette Schuneman (Steven). Joan was also a faithful Grandma to her husband’s grandson, Frank IV.

Although Joan and her husband enjoyed traveling together, she lived in the San Diego area most of her life. Joan was the first daughter of Ted and Diana Widrig from Seattle, WA, who moved to Del Mar, CA in 1955, making it their forever home. Del Mar was a small place then, with plenty of open land to choose from. Joan attended the local schools. She moved to San Diego to graduate from what was then San Diego State in 1970. She worked hard and had a long career with the federal government, eventually retiring as a property manager.

Joan was as happy hosting a pretty Christmas Tea for her friends as she was climbing the mast of their sailboat to fix some rigging. She was a member of the ZLAC rowing club on Mission Bay from the age of sixteen on. In high school she sewed her elegant formal gowns for dances and later sewed all the curtains and cushions for their boat. She loved flowers and decorating and crocheted numerous soft blankets for friends.

Joan really cared about people. She was a great listener, and always liked to encourage and help. She firmly believed in a Higher Power. One thing she would say is: “There is a solution, it just hasn’t been found yet.” Even in recent years, her favorite thing to do was to go outside for a walk or ride, enjoy nature, and greet the people she saw. If those people happened to have a dog or child with them, that was an especially happy bonus to her!

Joan touched many lives and I know her love will stay with all of us.

We want to express our very deepest thanks to the people that were so kind and helpful as Alzheimer’s ran its course. There truly are angels among us.