Joan R. Sheldon, a resident of Thurston County since 1971, died in the hospital. Born in Alabama on April 7, 1928 to Janice and Richard Redden, she was moved within a few months to Washington, D.C. In 1947, while attending the U. of Hawaii she met her life long love, George M. Sheldon, an Ensign on his first assignment out of the Academy. On June 15, 1948, they were married in the chapel at NAS Moffett Field. From the honeymoon they went to to Pensacola where George got his wings and qualified as a carrier pilot in 1949. By 1965 they had (finally) gotten her B.S. and begun her career as a Social Worker and George was a Chaplin in the Navy. He retired in 1971 and they came to Olympia, built their first house and both went to work for DSHS, George supplying at various churches as a Priest. In 1982 they went to Quito, Ecuador as missionaries for SAMS, and established a seminary for the indigenous.

On 09/25/2001, George died of cancer leaving Joan devastated. However, she continued to serve the church. Surrounded by wonderful friends and devoted children, she began a new life as a widow at Vista Village.

Joan died in the sure hope of the resurrection. She had been predeceased by her parents, her only sibling, Richard Jr., her husband’s parents and his only brother, her dearly beloved husband with whom she shared 53 years and her daughter Jennifer Toombs. She is survived by her son David Sheldon. The memorial service will be at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The internment of ashes will follow immediately in the Church’s Columbarium.