Joyce Ann Herman

Joyce Munsch was born on June 10, 1933, in La Jolla, California. After graduating from La Jolla High School and completing some college, she began her career as an office assistant at Sanderson’s in La Jolla. She later worked for the Department of Justice (FBI) in San Diego for five years.

In 1956, Joyce met Leon Herman, quite by accident through their parents, and they were married in 1957. The couple briefly lived in Tarzana, California, before settling in San Miguel in 1959, where they built their life and raised their family.

After dedicating her early years to raising her two children, Joyce reentered the workforce as the office manager for Pioneer Auto Parts in Paso Robles, where she worked for 18 years. In 1997, she became the manager of the Antique Emporium, a role she held until the building was lost in the 2003 earthquake. She then continued her lifelong passion for history as the administrator of the Rios-Caledonia Adobe, serving until her retirement in 2017.

Joyce was a tireless and devoted volunteer throughout her life. She served as both clerk and president of the Pleasant Valley School Board for eight years, was a sewing advisor for Estrella 4-H, and served as president of Pioneer Players, where she also painted sets and designed costumes. She was an active member of the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce and was honored as “Roblan of the Month” in March 1995.

A founding member of Project Theatre, Joyce took great pride in the organization’s role in helping bring the Cuesta College Performing Arts Center to life—a place where she later enjoyed watching her granddaughter perform.

Her love of history and community preservation was evident in her work restoring the Rios-Caledonia Adobe, the Estrella Adobe Church, and her involvement with the Pleasant Valley Community Foundation to help restore the original Pleasant Valley one-room schoolhouse.

Joyce was respected and loved by all who knew her. She will be deeply missed and forever loved by her daughter, Susan Velasquez; son-in-law, Bob Velasquez; grandchildren, Michael and Sophia Velasquez; and her son, Ron Herman (Pam Lyon).

Joyce will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband, Leon, at a private family service, in accordance with her wishes.