Dillard Ramsey Harwell

Dillard Ramsey Harwell Oct 19, 1933 – Nov 9, 2019 Dillard Ramsey Harwell was born October 19, 1933, in Abilene, Texas to India Mae Ramsey and Alton “Jack” Harwell. His family migrated to California in search of employment in 1935 and settled into a barn in Vista, Ca owned by George Pepperdine. Dillard attended school in La Mesa, Ca and was part of the first graduating class of Helix High School in 1952. Drafted in 1954 to serve in the Korean War, he stated that he was “able to keep the enemy from invading Birmingham, AL,” where he was stationed as a welder. On the GI Bill, he graduated from SDSU in 1958 with a degree in Art. He was a gifted designer who has an eye for detail but also an equal love of cars. After college he went to work for his brother-in-law, Gerald Jerome, ASID and had a side business in Tijuana called LaReja creating wrought iron works. His projects in San Diego included furniture and sculptures featured in the Star of the Sea Room, Islandia Hotel, and the seagull sculpture at the first Cinerama. He married Jolene Ruth Creed on May 22, 1961. Their families had a long history of worshipping together in the Churches of Christ. They started their life in Point Loma, while Dillard worked for Jerome and Jolene worked for the La Jolla Town Council. Their first child, Devon, was born in 1963 and their second child, Regan, was born in 1967. The family relocated to Glendale, CA, where Dillard served as Vice President of Webb Textiles. In 1971 the returned to San Diego and he started Designplace Furniture MFG to build custom furniture. It was sold throughout the US and featured in publications such as Architectural Digest and San Diego Magazine. The entire family worked at Designplace and if you crossed Dillard’s path and needed a job, he would give you one. Dillard sold Designplace in 1983 and received his Contractor’s License. He and Jolene purchased and restored many houses throughout San Diego County. Dillard later partnered with Stu Scott and they became Harwell & Scott General Contractors, which he thoroughly enjoyed until retirement. Dillard collected and restored classic cars and could name the model and year of any car prior to 1970. In high school, he was a member of the Loafers car club and later the San Diego Automotive Museum and San Diego Early Ford V-8 Club. At the time of his death he was building a 1923 Model T Ford hotrod which he planned to personally race. Nothing was as thrilling as the hunt for a car. He and Jolene made many cross-country trips driving through old farms and back alleys in pursuit of the right car. Dillard was involved with Rotary where he served as President of the El Cajon club and was later recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. He also was a member, along with Jolene, of the Johnson Avenue Church of Christ for almost 50 years where he served for a time as an Elder. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jolene, and his daughters Devon and Regan and son’s-inlaw Brian and Robby and four grandchildren – Zoey, Henri, Milo and Oscar. He was dearly loved and will be deeply missed.