Joel and his parents, Ruth K. Colten and Aaron D. Colten (1913 – 1995) and brother David J. Colten were from Elkins Park, PA. He graduated from Cheltenham High School in 1968.
By 1980, Joel Colten had become a burgeoning writer and poet. Some of his writings were included in an anthology publication entitled Coming Attractions: An Anthology of American Poets in Their Twenties, edited by Dennis Cooper (Little Caesar Press, 1980).
In May, 1980, Joel Colten was 29 years old. He loaded his new Volkswagen Dasher with camera equipment and set out west to see the world, photograph national parks and experience natural wonders. His last phone call home was May 13. He was last sighted driving east from I-5 on Washington Highway 504, the Spirit Lake Highway toward Mt. St. Helens. The volcano erupted the next day, May 18, 1980, at 08:32 a.m.
Joel Colten was listed among the missing for over a year. "If you ever have information about Joel, please notify us at once," his mother, Ruth Colten, wrote in a June 22, 1980, letter from Wyncote, PA.
"His father and I are heartsick," Mrs. Colten wrote. "We've accepted the fact he's lost to us, but it is so painful. If you even find the car and the pictures he took, let us know. We want the pictures so badly. Please be in touch."
In June, 1981, construction workers found Colten's skull, vertebrae, ribs, boot and sock 12 miles from Mount St. Helens, near the North Fork of the Toutle River. These were positively identified as Joel K. Colten. His car and pictures remain lost.
By 1980, Joel Colten had become a burgeoning writer and poet. Some of his writings were included in an anthology publication entitled Coming Attractions: An Anthology of American Poets in Their Twenties, edited by Dennis Cooper (Little Caesar Press, 1980).
In May, 1980, Joel Colten was 29 years old. He loaded his new Volkswagen Dasher with camera equipment and set out west to see the world, photograph national parks and experience natural wonders. His last phone call home was May 13. He was last sighted driving east from I-5 on Washington Highway 504, the Spirit Lake Highway toward Mt. St. Helens. The volcano erupted the next day, May 18, 1980, at 08:32 a.m.
Joel Colten was listed among the missing for over a year. "If you ever have information about Joel, please notify us at once," his mother, Ruth Colten, wrote in a June 22, 1980, letter from Wyncote, PA.
"His father and I are heartsick," Mrs. Colten wrote. "We've accepted the fact he's lost to us, but it is so painful. If you even find the car and the pictures he took, let us know. We want the pictures so badly. Please be in touch."
In June, 1981, construction workers found Colten's skull, vertebrae, ribs, boot and sock 12 miles from Mount St. Helens, near the North Fork of the Toutle River. These were positively identified as Joel K. Colten. His car and pictures remain lost.
Joel and his parents, Ruth K. Colten and Aaron D. Colten (1913 – 1995) and brother David J. Colten were from Elkins Park, PA. He graduated from Cheltenham High School in 1968.
By 1980, Joel Colten had become a burgeoning writer and poet. Some of his writings were included in an anthology publication entitled Coming Attractions: An Anthology of American Poets in Their Twenties, edited by Dennis Cooper (Little Caesar Press, 1980).
In May, 1980, Joel Colten was 29 years old. He loaded his new Volkswagen Dasher with camera equipment and set out west to see the world, photograph national parks and experience natural wonders. His last phone call home was May 13. He was last sighted driving east from I-5 on Washington Highway 504, the Spirit Lake Highway toward Mt. St. Helens. The volcano erupted the next day, May 18, 1980, at 08:32 a.m.
Joel Colten was listed among the missing for over a year. "If you ever have information about Joel, please notify us at once," his mother, Ruth Colten, wrote in a June 22, 1980, letter from Wyncote, PA.
"His father and I are heartsick," Mrs. Colten wrote. "We've accepted the fact he's lost to us, but it is so painful. If you even find the car and the pictures he took, let us know. We want the pictures so badly. Please be in touch."
In June, 1981, construction workers found Colten's skull, vertebrae, ribs, boot and sock 12 miles from Mount St. Helens, near the North Fork of the Toutle River. These were positively identified as Joel K. Colten. His car and pictures remain lost.
By 1980, Joel Colten had become a burgeoning writer and poet. Some of his writings were included in an anthology publication entitled Coming Attractions: An Anthology of American Poets in Their Twenties, edited by Dennis Cooper (Little Caesar Press, 1980).
In May, 1980, Joel Colten was 29 years old. He loaded his new Volkswagen Dasher with camera equipment and set out west to see the world, photograph national parks and experience natural wonders. His last phone call home was May 13. He was last sighted driving east from I-5 on Washington Highway 504, the Spirit Lake Highway toward Mt. St. Helens. The volcano erupted the next day, May 18, 1980, at 08:32 a.m.
Joel Colten was listed among the missing for over a year. "If you ever have information about Joel, please notify us at once," his mother, Ruth Colten, wrote in a June 22, 1980, letter from Wyncote, PA.
"His father and I are heartsick," Mrs. Colten wrote. "We've accepted the fact he's lost to us, but it is so painful. If you even find the car and the pictures he took, let us know. We want the pictures so badly. Please be in touch."
In June, 1981, construction workers found Colten's skull, vertebrae, ribs, boot and sock 12 miles from Mount St. Helens, near the North Fork of the Toutle River. These were positively identified as Joel K. Colten. His car and pictures remain lost.
Gravesite Details
Died during eruption of Mount St. Helens, he was a resident of Wyncote, Pennsylvania.
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