Joan G. Dudley

Joan Godshall Dudley, age 78, passed away on December 16, 2022 in Ferndale, WA. Joan was born in Philadelphia, PA on June 10, 1944 to parents Henry and Mary (Klopp) Godshall. She graduated from Wayland Academy in 1962 and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Government from Cornell University and her master’s degree from Columbia Teachers College.
She began her career as an educator, with an emphasis on disadvantaged youth. After graduating from Cornell, Joan taught English in Brazil and Honduras in the late 1960’s. Upon returning from Latin America, Joan returned to school to complete her Master’s in Education & Latin American Studies. Building upon her teaching credentials, Joan taught inner-city youth in New York City in the early 1970’s.
In the mid-1970’s she moved to Bellingham and began work as an Administrator at Blue Canyon Foundation - later renamed Lake Whatcom Residential & Treatment Center, where she remained until her retirement in 2004.
Joan was a prolific crafter. Weaving, quilting, spinning, knitting, and beading were among her favorite crafts, and one of the primary avenues for her many friendships. The other was her involvement in the lives and activities of her two boys; from organizing playgroups to heading up the PTA to hitting the road for soccer tournaments or track meets. She was always a friendly presence and often found or made friends in the stands with a tin full of cookies and a smile. She was always generous in her support of her kids’ interests.
Joan had the good fortune to be cared for by Annetta Lee and her staff at Lee Manor Adult Family Home over the final five years of her life, as Alzheimer’s disease eroded her previously formidable abilities.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Mary Godshall and her brother, Jonathan Godshall. She is survived by her sister Jamie Godshall and brother in-law David Gerry; sister in-law Nancy Godshall; her two sons Eric and Justin Dudley along with their wives Amber Larsen and Heidi Dudley, and three grandchildren Charlotte, Landon and Tucker; and former husband Rick Dudley.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, January 13, at Westford Funeral Home in Bellingham, with reception following. The family invites any attendees at the service that have a piece of clothing made by Joan (scarf, hat, jewelry, beading, etc), to please wear it to her service in her honor.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.