Dolores Beall Knowland

Dolores Beall Knowland, best known to California family and friends as “Dee” and “GranDee” passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving children on March 10, 2022. She will be remembered for her enormous generosity, sharp wit, vitality, and charismatic charm.

Dee was born on July 11, 1931, in Rockville, Maryland and christened Dolores Faye Beall, she was best known to her Maryland family and friends as “Dodie”.

She married Joseph William Knowland on June 24, 1950, at Methodist Church in Olney, Maryland. They moved to Oakland, California.

Dee was a dynamic entrepreneur that was the catalyst for many successful business ventures. She was founder/proprietor of a unique Oakland based health and beauty center “The Best Me”and served as President / CEO of her own, national sales/marketing corporation which marketed Crème de la Mer. Since 1997, Dee has been a luxury real estate professional, most recently working for Compass. For four consecutive years, Dee received the coveted GMAC/Pacific Union National Sales Award for the top-100 agents in the United States.

Dee served on the advisory boards of United Nations WAIF organization, Oakland Ballet, Oakland Symphony, and was an active member of the Oakland Junior League. As a major fundraiser, Dee received awards from Oakland Children’s Hospital and personally from Jonas Salk for successfully raising funds for his Medical Research Institute following his discovery and development of the polio vaccine. Along with her husband, Joe, they co-chaired financing the restoration of the Paramount Theater, an Oakland art deco masterpiece and national historic landmark and served on the Honorary Board in support of the Fox Oakland Restoration Project.

Dee is survived by her daughter Deanne, son Bill, daughter-in-law Beverly and grandson Forrest. She was predeceased by her loving husband Joe and daughter Rebecca.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to : American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or call 1-800242-8721.