Carel June Streetman

Carel June (Estell) Streetman passed at age 91 after a brief illness (pneumonia) had her in the hospital for 3 days.  She had numerous ailments but it was a surprise for everyone to lose her.   Since being disabled by a stroke in 2015, Carel had lived at Nazareth House in Mission Valley (San Diego).   She remained full of life, laughter, and anticipation for  lunch outt, for Bridge and Bingo games, etc.  She was a bright personality and always dolled up with a smile, a fun hat and jewelry and a spritz of her favorite perfume Giorgio!

Carel was born in Los Angeles to parents Carel (her father) and Mae, both from Texas, who'd come to work in the LA garment industry.  In 1942, the Japanese shelled oil refineries near Santa Barbara and her parents decided to move the family back to Texas.  Carel and her sister Cora Delores ("Pug") fondly recalled life on their small farm near Grapeland TX.  After a few years of farming their parents opened a successful cafe, the Casa Blanca, and built a small motel.  Through high school Carel worked in the cafe where she learned all the songs on the jukebox -- her bedroom was just overhead.  She attended Sam Houston Texas State Teacher's College, but her high school sweetheart Joe Streetman persuaded her to leave college in 1952 to gete married in Virginia where he was stationed by the US Army during the Korean War.  Their only child, son Steven, was born while they were there.  When Joe left the service, they moved back to Texas for Joe to earn his Master's Degree from Texas A&M in College Station TX.  

After graduation in 1956 Joe accepted an engineering offer from Convair in San Diego and the young family headed west in a newly-purchased Jaguar!   Joe was a rocket scientist and senior rocket engineer with Convair (General Dynamics) until his retirement.  The couple were married for over 66 years at Joe's passing in 2019.  They enjoyed years of traveling the deserts of the southwest and Mexico with friends and their various 4-wheel drive campers.  Carel was a fantastic cook and always managed to provision the trips well.  Carel worked in sales much of her life, largely from home, earning too many cruises to count!  She saw the world with Joe, friends and family.  Her later years included frequent trips to her beloved San Diego Zoo where many of the animals recognized her by her wild hats.

Carel is survived by her sister Cora McLeod in San Leon TX; son Steven and his wife Vicki in San Diego; grandson Scott and his fiance Elizabeth in Mammoth Lakes CA; grandson Glenn. his wife Heidi and their son James in San Diego.

Carel had a fun-loving, bigger-than-life personality!  We will miss you Carel June!