Rites Scheduled for Couple From Del Mar Lost in Gulf

A memorial service will be held Saturday for a Del Mar couple lost on a scuba diving excursion New Year’s Day in Mexico’s Gulf of California.

Joseph Thornton Ream Jr., 63, and Janet Gay Ream, 56, were among 14 people, including nine other U.S. citizens, reported missing after the chartered boat they were on was swamped by a large wave in rough seas.

The Reams were experienced divers who had traveled to Fiji, Australia, Costa Rica and other parts of the world to dive during their six years of marriage, said Sharon Feierabend, Janet’s sister.

They had been neighbors for 25 years and married in 1983 after the deaths of their spouses, Feierabend, a Del Mar resident, said.

Joseph Ream, who had lived in Del Mar for 29 years, was born in Springfield, Ill. He graduated with honors from the University of Illinois with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. He worked as an engineer for General Dynamics Corp. in La Jolla for 22 years.

Jant Ream was born in Moorhead, Iowa. She lived in Del Mar for 30 years. A founding member of the Del Mar Community Farmers Market, she was also active in city elections and worked to pass Measure B, a slow-growth initiative approved by Del Mar voters in 1986.

She is survived by a daughter, Electa Gay Perez of Ramona; a brother, Robert G. Outhouse of St. George, Kan.; her sister and two grandchildren.

Joseph Ream is survived by two daughters, Cynthia McCullough and Linda Cogswell of Denver; three sons, Curtis Ream of Carlsbad, Lawrence Ream of Denver and Steven Ream of Escondido, and 16 grandchildren. He is also survived by his parents, Helen and Joseph Ream Sr. of Springfield, Ill., and three brothers, Charles Ream of Vicenza, Italy, Noel Ream of Springfield, Ill., and Stanley Ream of Annapolis, Md.

The memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, 120 Stevens Ave., Solana Beach. Instead of flowers, the family asks that contributions be sent to the Diver’s Alert Network.