L. Joan Blunt

L. JOAN BLUNT September 2, 1923 ~ January 26, 2017 L. Joan Blunt, 93, passed away on Jan. 26, 2017 at her home at Van Mall Retirement in Vancouver, WA. She was born to Carl and Lila Lindblom on Sept. 2, 1923 in Beaver City, NE. After her father's death when she was 10 years old, Joan moved with her mother and brother, John, to Portland, OR to live near relatives. Over the years, the family moved around the Portland area, living a short time in Newberg, OR where she graduated from Newberg High School. After graduation, Joan worked as a sales clerk at Marshall Wells in Portland. She met the love of her life, Don Blunt, on a blind date set up by her brother, John. Don and Joan were married on Oct. 11, 1946 and were blessed with three children, Jay, Jerry and Judy. They moved to Vancouver, WA when Jay was a baby. Joan worked at Alcoa for many years. She ended her working career, at Oxford Athletic Club, retiring after more than 30 years of employment as a receptionist and bookkeeper. "The Club", as she often referred to it, was her baby and she was a devoted employee. Joan was an avid bridge player and played in several bridge groups over the years where she developed many long-lasting friendships. She enjoyed playing card games and Friday night dominos with neighbors and friends. She especially enjoyed playing cribbage with her son Jay several times a week and was ruthless! Joan also enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles and could sit for hours playing her handheld poker machine. Before Don's death in 1994, Don and Joan enjoyed driving to Reno and taking guided bus tours across the United States. They were both history buffs and enjoyed visiting historical locations. They especially enjoyed watching their grandchildren's sporting events and dance recitals, and in Joan's words, "I have the best and cutest grandchildren in all the world." Joan had a green thumb and grew beautiful dahlias. Adding a new dahlia bulb to her yard every year, her backyard was a "dahlia showplace." She lived in her home in the Vancouver Heights neighborhood for 59 years and then moved to Van Mall Retirement when she was 92. Joan is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jay and Lori Blunt; grandson, Jason Blunt (Jeanette); granddaughters, Stacie Torppa (Cory) and Shaina Cincotta (Matt); son-in-law, Huffman Smith; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, John Lindblom; husband, Don; son, Jerry; daughter, Judy; and great-grandson, Jaxon Torppa. Joan's family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Van Mall Retirement for their loving, compassionate care of Joan over the last weeks of her life. They would also like to thank the staff of Hospice Southwest for their exemplary care of Joan, especially from hospice nurse Gay. There will be a funeral service for Joan on Wed., Feb. 1, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, 1101 NE 112th Ave., Vancouver, WA 98684, with burial immediately following at the cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to PeaceHealth Southwest Hospice, 5400 MacArthur Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98661. Please sign her guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.

L. Joan Blunt

September 2, 1923 - January 26, 2017