Walter Bettis Conwell III

Walt was born April 2, 1942, in Los Angeles, California, to Walter Bettis Conwell II and Catherine Martin Conwell. He was the eldest of three sons. At 14, Walt took a drafting class and was immediately captivated by design. Even before graduating from Birmingham High School in Los Angeles, he was working part-time as a draftsman for an architect.

Just before entering Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo's architectural program, Walt married Dawn LaFleur Stepaniak on December 5, 1963. They welcomed two sons, Rod and Weston, while Walt pursued his degree. After graduation, Walt’s design professor Paul Neel recommended him to Jim Luckman, who headed Charles Luckman and Associates architectural firm on the East Coast, calling Walt one of the most talented students he'd ever had.

After two years, the family returned west, eventually settling in San Diego in 1975, where Walt purchased and remodeled a house overlooking Tecolote Canyon. Walt and Dawn welcomed their third child, Kyle Dru Conwell.

Over the next 40 years, Walt opened three architectural firms. In 1983, he partnered with Mike Marshall to form Conwell+Marshall & Associates. In 1995, the firm transitioned to Conwell Shonkwiler & Associates, with Jerry Shonkwiler joining as a new partner. Finally, in 2006, he opened Walt Conwell Architect, Inc.

In 1989, Walt married Patricia Thorson Rogers. Together they enjoyed road trips across the American West and travels to Europe. Walt also enjoyed architectural tours to Japan and Spain. Walt was an avid golfer, a loyal Padres fan, and loved his NSX He was devoted to his family, friends, and dogs.

He was predeceased by his parents, his first wife Dawn, and his brother Stephen Hilton Conwell, who died just six months before him. He is survived by his wife, Pat; his brother, Peter (Cami), his sister-in-law Patty Conwell, his sons Rod (Kristin), Weston (Sarah), and Kyle (Bekkah); his stepdaughter Kate Rogers Mayne (Jay); and his grandchildren Elvis and Lincoln Conwell, Loa Conwell, and Elizabeth Brown.