Joan Alice (Balderston) Edwards

WINTHROP – Joan was born Aug. 20, 1935 in Trenton N.J., the daughter of Newton Balderston and Harriet Woolman Balderston.

Joan graduated from Madison High School and Trenton State Teachers College. She taught school in East Brunswick, N.J. until she met the love of her life, Lehan Edwards “Pete” in 1959, they were married on Dec. 26, 1959. After Pete graduated from Penn State they began living in Monmouth for four years until they moved to Winthrop. Joan taught school in Winthrop and later retired from the Wayne Elementary School where she taught 2nd grade, retiring in 1992.

Those were busy years enjoyed by Joan and Pete and three children. One of her hobbies was oil painting on shingles and on slate, later Joan enjoyed watercolor painting. Joan sold many paintings at craft fairs in both the Winthrop and Pembroke areas painting on shingles, slate, rocks and canvas. Joan loved painting on rocks such as turtles, ladybugs, mice, etc. that kids loved to buy at her craft fairs. In recent years, Joan made her own greeting cards loved by many, she was also known for her “moose poop” art -she brought home a suitcase full from a trip to Alaska, the most popular were “moosletoe” and little moose figures and ornaments. She was active in the Kennescoggin Art Club and Chairman of the Rotary Ball decorations for 10 years. The summers were spent on Narrows Pond and Cobbossee Lake swimming and enjoying life.

For 15 years, after retiring, Joan and Pete moved downeast to Lubec and then built a house on Cobscook Bay in Pembroke where they had many friends and enjoyed hiking, biking, kayaking. Joan was a member of the St. Croix International Garden Club and President for two years.

Joan and her family spent many summers in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, she lived in Madison, N.J. many years and then her parents bought a house on Lake Owassa where Joan and family and her brother Bob’s family spent many summers as the kids grew up.

Joan and Pete, along with friends and family, spent a lot of time on Campobello Island’s coast as well as in Lubec and Pembroke. Joan also had the privilege of meeting Martha Stewart after volunteering at an Art event through the garden club and was invited to visit Martha’s home in Bar Harbor.

Pete and Joan were able to travel to a lot of places where they enjoyed nature with both family and friends. They have been out west, Florida, Ireland, Alaska, Iceland, Newfoundland, the Azores, Jekyll Island, Ga., camping in Tennessee and many places in Maine camping with friends and family. They took many trips with their friends from the Lubec/Pembroke area called “The Pathfinders” they did local hikes to many natural areas and went on some of the above trips together.

One sign of Joan’s sense of humor was that she built rock creatures on tree limbs, roadside and fields on their properties included Boot Cove Lane in Winthrop and Pembroke. Joan’s rock collecting and creations led to the nickname “Joanhenge”.

Joan handmade her own Christmas cards since 1962 and sent out close to 100 many years.

Joan and Pete moved back to Winthrop in 2010 where they built a house.

Joan truly enjoyed life, helping and teaching others, traveling, crafting and family time. It was a life well lived and she will be greatly missed by her family, good friends and many more.

Joan was predeceased by her husband, Pete; and brother, Robert Balderston.

Joan is survived by her three children, Kellie Edwards of Winthrop, Kendell Edwards and wife Alice Edwards of Winthrop, Keith Edwards and wife Britt Morris of Richmond; her grandson, Matthew Carter and his wife Roxanne Carter of Winthrop; and two great-grandchildren, Maddison Ives Carter (7) and Reid Edward Carter (4). She is also survived by sister-in-law, Nita Balderston, her two sons, Craig and Matthew Balderston and their families; and sister-in-law, Carol Johnson, her children Norman and Christina and families.

Joan’s visitation will be held on Thursday Sept. 12 from 4-7 p.m. at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St. Winthrop. A memorial service will take place on Friday, Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. at the Winthrop Congregational Church, 10 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Monmouth Ridge Cemetery, Ridge Road, Monmouth. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited.

Arrangements are in the care of the Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop where condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com

If you wish, donations may be made on Joan’s behalf to Wilderness Miracles Wildlife Rehab (a facility located in Bowdoin, dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating injured, orphaned, and sick wildlife, and whose mission is to care for these animals until they are healthy enough to be returned to the wild) through a wildlife sponsorship or a general donation at 1675 Augusta Rd., Bowdoin, ME 04287.