Life Story

JoAnne was born in Berkeley in 1932, one of the few days in recent history that it snowed. She went to Garfield Jr. and Berkeley High School. She lost her mother early to cancer at age 15, leaving her to help care for her father and older brother. 

She was taken under the wing of her Girl Scout leader, who became a lifelong friend and who helped her cope with the loss. She was someone Jo could confide in and talk to, and who encouraged her to strive to succeed in her growing years. 

As a result, she studied hard, learned to be an excellent pianist, participated in many varied school activities, and became a very popular student leader. 

She dated and had a steady High School boy friend who was the student body president while she was the student body secretary. Dave was in the class ahead, and although aware of her did not know her personally even though they belonged to the same church in Berkeley.  Her dad was the church treasurer and his mother taught Sunday school. Jo’s brother also belonged to the same scout troop sponsored by the church that Dave later joined. Jo recalls once seeing some Boy Scouts in her back yard practicing camp baking, one of whom turned out to be Dave with his brother Charles. 

Thus as fate would have it, like two ships passing in the night, in spite of these common experiences they never met or knew much about each other.  As it would turn out, an early exposure to the Christian faith was a common thread leading to a long, deep and devoted service to the church that strengthened their marriage and a dedication to strong family values and service to others.

Jo and Dave both worked in recreation and ended up dating. In college at Cal Berkeley, they became "pinned" and later engaged. 

Jo and Dave married in 1953. Dave attended law school and Jo taught school. They had three children: Sue (1958), Tom (1959), and Mary (1960). They moved to Chico where Dave became a partner in a law firm.

In Chico, Joanne continued her life of service. She volunteered for the Children’s Home Society, Omega Nu, the Enloe Hospital Auxiliary, the Chico Community Concert Association, the PTA, Las Senoras, Rainbow Girls, PEO, the UC Alumni Council, and as a Girl Scout leader.

Joanne loved birds. Often, she and Dave would walk around Chico and identify new bird species. Even during her last months of life, Joanne enjoyed watching birds and talking about them. She loved to read and was active in a book club for many years.

Dave and Joanne loved to travel. Over many years she enjoyed going to new places like China, Nova Scotia, Africa, and many others.

Joanne was an active member of Bidwell Memorial Presbyterian Church for over sixty years. She and Dave were members of the choir and enjoyed the fellowship of choir members over the years.