Joann Shaffer Baldwin

JoAnn Shaffer Baldwin

February 9. 1927 - December 6. 2018

Aged 91 years, 9 mos, 27 days

JoAnn Shaffer Baldwin was born in Van Nuys, California, the youngest of 5 children. She graduated from Washington High School, El Camino College, and then Long Beach State University. She has spent many long and accomplished years raising her children, teaching hundreds of elementary grade children in her 29 year career as an educator, and gently nurturing the many people around her. She enjoyed her life-long dream of owning a horse ranch in the mountains and raising many animals there, including Arabian horses, mules, donkeys, goats, dogs, cats and a menagerie of other living things. She was a member of the Rancho Encino Mountain Club, of which she also served as president for several years. JoAnn also enjoyed gardening, traveling, and helping others in many different ways. Her talents were vast and varied, from rattlesnake wrangling, to being a playwright and inspiration. She was known for her courage, vivacity, and making dreams come true. We will miss her greatly. Her biography “Ninety Years and Counting” is available on Amazon for anyone who might wish to learn more about her amazing life.

She is survived by her 6 children, 16 grandchildren, & 26 great-grandchildren:

Children: Benjamin H. Bland III (Lynette), Robert L. Bland (Jill), Barry J. Bland, Rebecca Woods (Kirk), Joni L. Elteto (Endre), John Fields (Erika.)

Grandchildren: Benjamin H. Bland IV, Brent Harrison, Rob Bland, Sonya Ferrari, Cort Smith, Keri Bland-Dickerson, Michele Bland-Grace, Barry Jay Bland, Clarke Woods, Savannah Woods Armstrong, Barry Woods, Kamaron Woods, Raechell Hurtado de Mendoza, Anna Hurtado de Mendoza, Holden Fields, Finn Fields.

Great Grandchildren: Benjamin H. Bland V, Nicole Bland, Cyrus Harrison, Adileh Harrison, Kendall Ferrari, Karissa Ferrari, Aeva Sharkey, Marilyn Sharkey, Cashton Sharkey, Justine Smith, Chanet Smith, Justin Moore, Matthew Dickerson, Jasmine Bland, Jordyn Bland, Jacob Bland, Sophie Woods, Claire Woods, Oliver Woods, Maren Woods, Anders Armstrong, Annalae Rose Armstrong, Ember Armstrong, Laura Ann Woods, Relia Woods, Jonathan Woods.

She is also survived by her partner, Robert Redondo, two sister-in-laws, Marian Shaffer and Judith Shaffer, many nieces and nephews, as well as many dear friends, neighbors, and close associates through her life and her beloved mountain club.

She is preceded in death by her parents: William L Shaffer and Dorothy L. (Hereford), her siblings: Betty, Peggy, Bill & Jack. Also by her husbands: Benjamin H. Bland II, James Clevenger, Joseph Wood, Edward Fields, & Charles Baldwin, and her grandson, Beau Sharkey.

At JoAnn’s request, memorial services will be held after the holidays.