Joel William Alldredge

On Friday, January 20, 2012, Joel William Alldredge,  passed peacefully.  He was born September 27, 1926 in Goldthwaite, Mills Co., TX to Angie Elizabeth (Roberts) and Joel William Otis Alldredge.  He joined his sister Valeta (6 years older) as one of two children. His father died in 1975, his sister in 1985 and his mother in 1999.

Joel grew up in Texas where he attended 10 different schools, graduating from high school at the age of 16. He enjoyed math, science, PE and reading in school; marbles, cars, girls, and any type of ball game on the side.

In 1942 he attended Texas Technical University for a year and later went on to Spartan College in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He majored in Aeronautical Engineering and earned an award for “Best Engineering Student” in 1946. After graduating he joined the Boeing Company in Wichita, Kansas, working  as a stress engineer developing a commercial airplane to replace the DC 3. When this project ended in 1947 he joined Curtis Wright Airplane Company in Columbus, Ohio.  At the end of one year, when most airplane work was halted,  he worked for an architect as a mechanical engineer.  At the end of 1948 Boeing contacted him and asked that he return to Wichita to work on the B-47 bomber.  It was during this time he met the lady who would become his wife of 37 years.  Jean Helen LeFors, born 1922, was working as a public health nurse.  They met at her parents’ house through a friend of her brother Roy who knew both Roy and Joel.   After a three month courtship he proposed and they were married December 31, 1950.

He continued to work at Boeing and bought his first house in Wichita. In 1952 their first child, Beth Ann was born followed two years later by their son Joel David.  During this time he designed and built their second home in Derby, KS.  In 1962 he went to Seattle for 6 months to help with the final design of the TFX airplane. When the government awarded the grant to another company he was invited to remain and work on the SST program. His family was thrilled and moved to Issaquah, WA where they lived a year on Beaver Lake.  He then bought a home on Lake Washington in Bellevue.  In 1971, he designed and built a new home on the lake in front of the existing house where he lived the rest of his life.  After a successful career as senior stress/structural manager leading the 747 and 767 airplane programs for Boeing, Joel retired in 1985.

At the time of his retirement, Jean’s health was in decline and spending the last two years of her life with her became his priority. Jean passed away in 1987.

Joel was known for his honesty, intellect, compassion and devotion to his family and friends.  He could have been considered a sickly child, but his parents let him live to his fullest abilities.   His mother related a story that at an early age, Joel was running a fever of about 102.  He was not in bed; he was playing on the kitchen floor.  His paternal grandfather told him that he was sick and needed to be in bed.  Joel told his grandfather, “Just cause ya got a temperture doesn’t mean yore sick.”  That attitude is how he dealt with illness throughout his life.  Having had polio, from his parents letting him  make the decision at 14 to have his spine reshaped to dealing with his more recent illnesses, this same perspective remained constant.  He was not afraid to stretch his boundaries, physically or mentally.  In his business life he was respected for his significant technical and leadership contributions, as well as his ability to work well with people and draw out the best in them. He continued throughout his life to cultivate meaningful and supportive relationships with family and friends. After Jean passed away, a widowed longtime friend of Jean’s, Edythe (Pam) Henderson of Wichita, Kansas became a loving friend, sharing comfort and support during his later years.  His attitude of being intentional framed his philosophy.  He always met adversity as a matter of course to be dealt with and never as a victim. Ignorance and apathy were put aside as unworthy companions. At the end of his journey, his messages were to find joy in living a useful life.  He admonished that no one was to be sad at his passing.  He lived well, prepared well, and left a fine, practical and loving example to his family, friends and loved ones.