Joan Kay Colwell

Joan Kay (Schmittle) Colwell, 92, of Sellersville, went home to be with the Lord at Quakertown Center on Wed., July 8, 2026. She was the loving wife of Ralph D. Colwell for 62 years until his death in 2018. Born in Blandburg, PA, she was a daughter of the late Harry and Kay (Doutrich) Schmittle. She was a 1951 graduate of Reade Township High School. She married Ralph on July 9, 1955.

After graduation she worked for A & P Markets. Then she married Ralph and moved to Sellersville where she was a housewife and mother to her 5 boys. She worked for Peerless Footwear in Telford, PA. Then did bookkeeping for a local contractor.

She was a long-time member of Bethel Baptist Church, Sellersville, PA. She served in many church ministries including serving in the Nursery, helping to prepare visitation supper meals and creating special flower arrangements celebrating the newborn babies in the church. She also served alongside her husband and sons in the church’s Bus Ministry.

Her favorite hobby was crocheting, which she learned from her Grandma Doutrich at age 5. She taught herself how to knit. She made countless afghans, lap blankets, baby blankets, scarfs, mittens, hats, shawls and many other projects for her family and many others. She liked to cook, to fish, and to spend time with her family. She loved the Philadelphia Philles watching them on TV, listening to them on the radio and watching them in person at the stadium.

The most important thing in her life was her family. Surviving are her sons: Randy Colwell of Sellersville; Ricky Colwell, wife Rebecca of Richlandtown; Gary Colwell, wife Deborah of Mertztown; Jerry "Gus" Colwell of Sellersville and James Colwell, wife Jennifer of Camp Hill; grandchildren: Robert, Raymond, Michael, Brad and wife Jacque, Stephanie and husband Andrew, Rebecca, Phillip; and great-grandchildren: Summer, Tucker, Shyanne, Savannah, William, Bella, Jackson, Kayden, Gavin and Kaylee.

Also surviving is a sister Billie Su Bates of Jurupa Valley CA, husband Ray and a brother Dale Schmittle, wife Janet of Phoenix AZ and a sister-in-law Debbie Schmittle of Charlotte NC. She was preceded in death by a brother Roger Schmittle of Charlotte NC.

All are invited to a viewing that will take place on Friday, July 17th, 2026, from 10:00 ~ 11:00am, located at Bethel Baptist Church, 754 E. Rockhill Road, Sellersville, PA 18960. A funeral service will begin at 11:00am. Graveside services will continue on Monday, July 20th, promptly beginning at 11:30am at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, 60 Indiantown Gap Road, Annville, PA 17003.

All arrangements are made by Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, Ltd.