Joan Wilson

Joan Wilson

1934-2022

Joan Elizabeth (Woodall) Wilson, age 87, passed away peacefully at La Posada – Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces, Sunday, April 3, 2022.

Joan was born April 22, 1934, in Gallup, N.M., to Bert and Lois (Caldwell) Woodall. Joan grew up in Belen, where she was a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls and served as Valencia County State Fair Queen.

Joan attended college in 1953 at New Mexico State University and transferred to the University of New Mexico in 1954. She was a member of the Pi Delta and Pi Gamma Chapters of the Chi Omega Sorority. Joan married David Madden Wilson, of Gallup, in 1955.

She raised her family in Denver, Colo., for a short time and later in Albuquerque. In 1969 Joan received her Real Estate license and became one of the first women to be a Realtor in Albuquerque, working first for Ackerman-Grant Realty then Hooten-Stahl Realty and Metro-100 Coldwell Banker Realty. Joan later created her own company, Albuquerque Home Sales. As a top Real Estate broker, Joan served her many hundreds of clients for close to 50 years and was a long-time member of the Greater Albuquerque Association of REALTORS.

Sixty years later, Joan returned to The University of New Mexico in 2013 to complete the college degree she started in 1953. She received her bachelor’s degree in American studies in 2016 at the age of 82.

She was a member of Asbury Methodist Church for many years and led their youth ministry group. She became an active member of Calvary Church of Albuquerque in later years and was also a volunteer serving the Women’s Prison Ministry of Albuquerque.

Joan lived her life straight out of a Hellen Keller quote she had hanging in her kitchen that read, “Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all.” She loved everything about life and somehow always found a way to make things happen for her business clients, herself and others.

In 1954, Joan found a way to own one of the first Chevrolet Corvette sports cars sold in New Mexico, a 1953 model. She had a passion for Southwestern history and art, and enjoyed travel, tennis, golf and a good workout in her daily Jazzercise and Zumba classes.

She loved her family and her many friends unconditionally and they loved her. Joan made the world around her a better place than she found it by devoting her Christian life to helping others, always putting them first before herself. Her love, fellowship, support, advice and her special touch of Jo Jo craziness will be greatly missed.

Joan was proceeded in death by her husband, David; brother, Harvey Woodall; and sister Jean Franklin.

She is survived by her sister Sue Tabet, of Los Lunas; her sons, Aaron Wilson, of Albuquerque, and David Wilson Jr. and his wife, Midge, of Las Cruces; grandchildren, Elizabeth Wilson and Matthew Wilson; nephews and nieces, Tamera Franklin Lang, Jerry Glenn Franklin, Troy Tabet, Todd Tabet, Travis Tabet, Chad Tabet, Mark Woodall, Natalie Woodall, Lisa Wilson and Alan Wilson; cousins, Steve Caldwell and Billy Caldwell; and other family members, including daughter-in-law, Peggy Wilson; brother-in-law, Richie Tabet; and sister-in-law, Karen Woodall.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 14, at the Chapel at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE, in Albuquerque, with Pastor Kerry Rose from Calvary Church officiating. Interment and a reception at Sunset Memorial Park will follow.

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