Joan Gladys Winslow

Joan Winslow passed away on October 6, 2011. Born in London, England on March 23,1921, she was one of five sisters. Joan enjoyed dancing, cycling, swimming, and the movies. She joined the Royal Air Force at age 20. At Hornchurch, she met Warrant Officer Thomas Winslow, a Spitfire pilot with the 222 Squadron and were married in December 1945. In 1948 they moved to Canada where Thomas joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. Joan spent the next 20 years on bases in Canada and the US, raising two children. After retiring from the air force, Thomas joined Boeing and they made a new home in Tacoma. In the mid-70s, they lived in Khartoum, Africa, where Thomas represented Boeing. Although Joan lived in Canada, the US and Africa, her heart always belonged to England. In Tacoma, Joan volunteered at D.A.R.E. and St. Joseph Hospital. She took great pride in homemaking; becoming skilled at sewing, cake making, decorating and gardening. She especially loved doting on her two grandsons. In recent years, Joan resided in Auburn, WA, where she was an avid Bingo player, and a Red Hat Society member. Joan was preceded in death by parents Alfred and Minnie, husband Thomas, daughter Joanne and sisters Doris, Joyce and Pat. She was loved and will be greatly missed by: son Alan and wife Debbie, grandsons Ryan and Chad, daughter Dianne and fiancé Michael, sister-in-law Pally, sister Rita and family in England. The family requests gifts in memory of Joan be made to the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 23, at 1:00 pm at The River club house, 3611 I Street NE, Auburn, WA.

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