She was their second child joining her older brother Bill. She married Bob Specht on December 7, 1964 and lived happily until her passing on Sunday April 7, 2013.
She attended Del Rey Elementary and was a Selma High School class of 1957 graduate. Joan competed on the swim team, played the bells on the school band and was a Selma Bears Pep Girl. While there she was voted Miss Congeniality for her untiring spunk and great personality. Her mother and father, who was an American Airlines Captain, divorced in 1944 when she was five years old. Joan and her mother worked together on a forty acre grape ranch, just west of Del Rey, for many years, until her mother remarried Jim Graham, a fellow rancher. Her Great Uncle and Aunt Britton were among the founders of the community of Del Rey including their bank that became part of the Bank of America.
She was a very courageous woman who battled breast cancer for 28 years. The last six years of her life she was in constant chemotherapy oncology treatment administered by Dr. Tom Hackett, and fought the good fight till no more could be done to help her. She spent less then two days at Hinds Hospice, choosing to tough it out with her husband and family while concealing her constant pain and continuing her great spirit to the end. Her love for her family sustained her through those many years of constant setbacks. Those who knew her well could not help but love her for her passion to live life to its fullest against huge odds. She was a faithful Saint Agnes Hospital Volunteer the last fifteen years of her life and received the Corrine Provost Award from their guild for working while ill on their behalf. Joan had great compassion for serving mankind and making the world a better and kinder place.
Joan and Bob were part of the “Jolly Bunch” group that consisted of seven married couples who got together on a monthly basis, and spent many great times enjoying every ones company. She always looked forward to the next “Meeting” and catching up with their lives.
She was a businesswoman, who assisted her husband Bob in their family business, Clovis Home Furnishing, handling the accounting and many office duties.
Joan loved her entire family, including husband Bob and their three daughters Vicki Funch, Robin Ellis and Juli Svetlik and her six grandchildren Patrick, Jonathan and Michael Funch, Jamie and Jordan Ellis, and Samantha East who is expecting her first great grandchild in May. Joan’s family wishes to thank all who gave their love and support during her illness and especially, her friend Eva Gray, who was one of her fellow volunteers at the hospital and always looked out for her. Rest in peace darling Joan, you have earned your angel wings and it is your turn to live eternal love.
Remembrances for Joan may be made to Veterans Memorial Museum “Home of the Legion of Valor” where her husband Bob is their Director. The address is 2425 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721 and the phone is 559-498-0510.
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