Joanne Louise Phelps (1943 - 2020)

Born 26 Nov 1943 in South Gate, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Ancestors

Daughter of Charles Wayne Phelps and Patricia (Palmer) Phelps

Died 11 Feb 2020 at age 76 in San Pedro, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Leila Schutz [send private message]

Biography

Joanne was the second child of Wayne and Patricia Phelps. She was born to them in 1943 during WWII when Wayne left the law and worked traveling across the country as a pipefitter. He was 1A the entire war but was never drafted because of his status as doing work necessary for the war effort. After the war, Wayne and Patty settled in Compton, California and Wayne went back to practicing the law. Joanne was sickly as a child and spent a year in bed suffering from Rheumatic Fever which damaged her heart. During those long months in bed, she taught herself to draw and paint. When she returned to school, she caught up with her studies quickly and continued to excel at art. In high school she won a summer scholarship to Chinouard Art College in Los Angeles. She was hooked and set her heart on attending Chinouard. She succeeded and eventually graduated from Chinouard (also known as The California Institute of the Arts) in 1964 with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art or a BFA. Beyond her artistic talents, Joanne was also a performer. She loved to play the piano and to entertain everyone. In her adult life, she has pursued unconventional paths and found her own successes. She had one, brief, unsuccessful marriage to James Gilchrist. After that disappointment, she had many romantic adventures but chose not to marry again. Following an automobile accident in 1983, she had to take a disability retirement but continued her artistic endeavors and has remained an entertaining and colorful character to everyone she encounters.

First-hand information as remembered by Leila Phelps, Wednesday, March 18, 2015.

Joanne passed away in home in her own bed from what appeared to be an asthma attack. Her death was not expected but she had been in poor health for several years. She was 76 years old at the time of her death. Everyone she ever encountered had strong memories of her shining talents and entertaining personality. She will be missed.

Personal recollection and testimony of her sister, Leila Phelps Schutz on 11 Feb 2020. "I was there when her body was removed from the house." (A death certificate has yet to be released to the family.

Relationship proven by DNA, autosomal test on Ancestry, to Leila Phelps Schutz (sister) and Gregory Brandt (nephew). Leila also has a proven DNA connection on 23andme to Loris Phelps Pepperdine (sister), Nancy Pepperdine Batanides (niece), Gregory Brandt (nephew), Stephen Louderback (great-nephew), Elizabeth Pepperdine Batanides (great-niece), Nicholas Pepperdine Batanides (great-nephew, The closest common ancestors to all of the above are Charles Wayne Phelps (father) and Patricia Orle Palmer Phelps (mother).

Sources

California Birth Index, 1905-1995 Joanne Louise Phelps

California, Divorce Index, 1966-1984 Joanne L Phelps

California, Marriage Index, 1960-1985 Joanne L Phelps

U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1 Joanne L Phelps

U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2 Joanne L Phelps

U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2 Joanne L Phelps

U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2 Joanne L Phelps

U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2 Joanne L Phelps

U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2 Joanne L Phelps

U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2 Joanne L Phelps

U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2 Joanne L Phelps

And, privately held family documents.