Joyce R. Kersh

Joyce R. Kersh, beloved wife of Rear Admiral John M. (Jack) Kersh USN (Ret.), passed away on January 25, 2016, at the Anne Arundel Medical Center following a brave three-year battle with lung and brain cancer. She was born in Washington, PA, on February 11, 1935. Her parents were Lester H. and Iva A. Ramsey of Eighty-Four, PA. She graduated from East Washington High School in 1953, received scholarships to Carnegie Mellon and Pennsylvania State Universities and graduated from Penn State in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Joyce was a member of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity and President of Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honorary Society at Penn State. She started post-graduate education at Old Dominion University in 1979 and earned her Master of Arts in Reading Science from The Citadel in 1981. Joyce was married to Jack on August 24, 1957, and served as a Navy wife raising three children, John, Christopher and Elizabeth while living in Norfolk, VA, Groton, CT, Charleston, SC, Key West, FL, Monterey, CA, Vallejo, CA, Saratoga Springs, NY, Dunoon, Scotland, Albuquerque, NM, Fairfax, VA, Boulder, CO, and Annapolis, MD. She taught in elementary and high schools in Norfolk, Groton and Charleston. Also she worked as a counselor and registrar in continuing education at George Mason University. Joyce was a voracious reader and a member of the Submarine Officers’ Wives Book Club for over 50 years. She loved flowers and gardening, and she was a gifted and devoted flower arranger and belonged to and was an officer in the Naval Academy Wives’ Garden Club and the Wardour Garden Club. Joyce was a member of the Naval Academy Chapel Altar Guild and created flower arrangements for the Chapel worship and wedding services every 4 to 6 weeks for over 15 years. For over 10 years, she was in charge of coordinating the Annapolis Area Garden Clubs in decorating the State Circle with wreaths each Christmas. She also loved playing duplicate bridge with her many friends wherever she lived. Joyce was a brilliant conversationalist and could prepare a gourmet meal for a crowd in an hour. She was a most compassionate wife, mom and friend -- she loved all and was loved by all. Joyce is survived by her loving husband, Jack Kersh, and family of three children and their spouses: John and Pam Kersh, Christopher and Sharon Kersh, Elizabeth and Tom Brasek; and five grandchildren: Ethan Kersh, Graham and Chloe Kersh and Jack and Harlan Brasek. Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 PM on Monday, February 8, 2016, at the John M. Taylor Funeral Home in Annapolis. Memorial Services will be held at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel at 10 AM, on Tuesday, February 9th followed by inurnment at the Naval Academy Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce’s memory may be made to USNA Foundation, USNA Chapel Pastoral Care Fund 913900. Mail to USNA Foundation, Inc. 25 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401 (memo line: Chapel Pastoral Care Fund 913900 in memory Joyce Kersh).