Joseph Donald Conwell was born October 8, 1942, to the late Edward Conwell and Paralee Whitted Conwell of Centerville, AL. He is known as “Teflon Don,” but to his three grandchildren, he is known as “Papa Don.” As the youngest of seven children, he was raised and taught that faith and family were the central focus to which he cherished all of his life.

He spent most of his early educational years in AL, moved to Knoxville, TN, in the eighth grade, and attended Beardsley Jr. High, where he met the love of life, Ardenia “Dena” Banks Conwell. He graduated from Austin High, Class of 1961, where he was on the Varsity Basketball team and culinary club. In 1967, he married his high school sweetheart, Dena, who moved to Pittsburgh, PA, to start their family and became a passionate Pittsburgh Steelers Fan. Don and his family moved back to Knoxville in 1973, and he became a member of Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church and served on the usher board.

Don was an avid bowler, golfer, and card player. He was a co-founder of the Expos, a youth Baseball team, where he coached his son, Joe Conwell II, with a close friend on the Claude Walker field, affectionately known as “Cotton Field”. His other hobbies were following UT Vols and watching sports on ESPN, especially basketball and football, with analytical knowledge of both sports.

Don was a truck driver hauling short and long routes for UPS and other local trucking companies. He also spent several years as a technician with Robert Shaw and worked for his brother, Walter “Joe” Conwell, Conwell Construction. His CB Handle was "The Shadow".

He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Paralee Conwell; sisters, Doris “Tee Tee” Holloway, Bonnie Martin, Margie Pratt, Betty Conwell; brother Walter “Joe” Conwell; and wife, Ardenia “Dena” Conwell.

He is survived by his oldest brother, Edgar “Dean” Conwell of Atlanta, GA; Daughter, Tamara (Mark) Henderson of Tampa, FL; Son, Joseph “Joe” Conwell, II (Knoxville, TN); three grandchildren, Jaylen Conwell (Chicago, IL), Kaylah (EJ) McCallum (Wesley Chapel), FL and Kyrah Henderson (NC). Hosts of cousins, nieces, nephews, and a special acknowledgment to devoted nieces Gloria Carter and Gwen Holloway (Knoxville, TN).