Joan Ruth Porter

A native of Toledo, Ohio, she was the youngest of four children (and a twin) born to Mary and Bernard Hildebrand of Swiss heritage. After graduating from a women’s vocational school, she pursued accounting and clerical work from a young age. She met her first husband, John Stoffel, while working at Willis Overland Jeep and married in 1951. John was eventually stationed in the Marines at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. In 1952 their first child, Claudia, was born. They tried a move back to Toledo to live in their hometown again, but sought a new location on the West Coast with more temperate weather. Before the move, their second child, Kurt, was born in 1954.

Southern California proved a successful new choice for a place to set up home. Not only was the California sunshine a welcome treat, but with the fast-growing aircraft industry, John procured employment immediately at General-Dynamics Convair in San Diego. The family continued to grow and Joan & John had two more children; Valerie in 1958 and Rhonda in 1961, respectively. They happily occupied homes in both La Mesa and El Cajon for many years.

Joan was a wonderful wife and mother and lived for simple pleasures in life; tending to her growing children---and their ever-changing menagerie of pets, long summer days at the beach, annual camping trips to Yosemite, Mammoth and Sequoia, and her always-in-progress DIY projects on-a-dime for home and garden.

Inevitable change came, and in 1983, Joan remarried to Jack Porter, a friend she’d known for years, and took up residence in Serra Mesa. This particular residence was noteworthy for Joan taking on her new role of grandmother to Lauren and Bryce which she did with great joy. Babysitting, taxi service, cooking, crafts and outings galore were all a part of her vocabulary. She took great care in imparting important wisdom, common sense, integrity, a work ethic and most importantly, fun, to her grandchildren that helped to form the individuals they are today.

Joan and Jack did several cross-country road trips visiting nearly all 50 states and she always spoke with pride and appreciation for how beautiful “her America” was. They also made the dream adventure to Europe to finally meet her cousins in Basel and Aarau, Switzerland.

She was proud of her ancestors and the history they instilled in her.

The Porters had 28 years together and Jack passed in 2011. Joan lived on her own until her health no longer allowed her to remain solo in her home. In January 2017, Joan moved into the Remington Club of San Diego where she lived in a more manageable setting. She flourished in her new “bachelorette pad” with new friends, live music, bi-weekly bingo matches and plenty of her beloved ice cream at any hour of the day. We are grateful to the Remington Club for making her last residence a safe, lovely, friendly and stimulating home.

We will miss her strong spirit, devious sense-of-humor, and colossal loving heart to the end.

She is survived by her children Kurt Stoffel (Toni), Valerie Stoffel, Rhonda Stoffel-Rudolfi (Peter), and her grandchildren Lauren Ball (Stephen), Bryce Garber, Ryan and Jordan Stoffel.

Friends may attend service taking place Saturday, August 25, 2018 at Noon

At the El Camino Mortuary at 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121. (858) 453-2121