Virginia Joyce Obituary

Durango resident Virginia Joyce died Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, in Durango. She was 88.

Mrs. Joyce was born to Effie and Cranfill Cox Sr. on March 4, 1923, in Athens, Texas. She grew up in Gilmer, Texas, and graduated from high school there. Mrs. Joyce attended North Texas State College in Denton, Texas.

She married Don Joyce in Texas before his departure for the India-China theater, where he was stationed in World War II.

During her lifetime, Mrs. Joyce taught ballet and social dancing, such as the jitterbug, worked as a florist and was a journalist, contributing to the Allison Sanders column in the Houston Chronicle.

She spent the bulk of her life in Texas, in Houston and the Fort Worth area.

"She had talents in music and interior design, where she excelled at the skills that made a house a home," her family said.

Mrs. Joyce had an avid interest in American history, and her hobbies included quilting. She received awards in 1976 for her bicentennial quilt, which featured autographs contributed by many of the prominent personalities and celebrities of the 20th century, ranging from John Wayne and Grace Kelly to Ronald Reagan and Joe DiMaggio.

She also was a very active volunteer for many years with the Fort Worth school system, adopting the persona of Mother Goose and reading classic literature and fairy tales to encourage an interest in reading in elementary school students.

After her husband died, Mrs. Joyce moved to Durango in 2006 to be closer to her son and his family.

She was an active member of First United Methodist Church of Durango.

Mrs. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband of more than 55 years, Don Joyce, in 2001.

She is survived by her son, Doug Joyce, of Durango.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at First United Methodist Church, 2917 Aspen Drive in Durango.