Joyce was born on February 14, 1932 in Santa Rosa California to Edmund (Rock) and Vera Anderson. Rock’s employment moved the family to Sacramento where she enjoyed growing up with her older brother Denny and helping her father renovate horseless carriages. She was active in Jobs Daughters, Girl Scouts and sports which cultivated her values in friends and community. Joyce attended Grant High School where her love of swimming grew along with the lifelong friendships she made there. She met with her childhood friends and synchronized swim mates for lunch every month until she died.
Joyce attended Sacramento State University where she finished her teaching credential, taught P.E. at her alma mater while finishing her Clinical Laboratory Technical degree and licensing. Joyce’s career as a “lab tech” spanned 30+ years in local hospitals (De Witt, Highland, Mercy San Juan, Rideout). It was while working at Dewitt Hospital she met Heinz “Rick” Richter (a recreation therapist) and found they shared the love of sports and outdoors. They married, raised three children passing on the fine balance of education and athletic lifestyle. Together they shared a colorful life on their Ophir ranch until Rick died in 2009.
Joyce Richter believed in volunteering and improving her community, she was a true humanitarian. Her involvement in forming a co-op preschool at the Pioneer Methodist Church cultivated friendships that lasted her entire life and lead to fundraising in that church for 30 years. The volunteer work she gave to the American Red Cross spans 70 years which began as a swim aide progressed to swim instructor, life guard, Instructor Trainer (WSIT & LGI), CPR trainings, disaster relief and service on many boards. While her children attended Sierra Pre-School, Penryn & Ophir Elementary, Joseph Kerr, Placer H.S and Del Oro H.S. she was active in parents clubs, academic and sports fundraising. Appreciation for camping took Joyce to volunteering at church camps, forming Camp Fire Girl groups and directing Camp Fire Girls Camp Pahatsi in Soda Springs. The last 2 decades, Joyce served on the Placer County Grand Jury, worked with the Auburn Garden Club, SARSAS, Ophir Property owners, Sacramento Braille Transcribers, Placer Adult Literacy and Grant Union High School Scholarship programs.
Education was a key to Joyce Richter keeping mentally sharp and on top of her game. In her mid 50s she was back in college, earned a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy and wrote a book on Water therapy for stroke patients. Her lab tech and PT degree were helpful to many friends who came to her for advice on health and fitness issues. She was an advocate of learning until you die.
An animal lover (a gift passed to her children &Rick appreciated) was just who Joyce was, the adopted animals, small, large, domestic and exotic shared her life as family. The famous TONY Llamma she took to classrooms in the 70s as a petting/educational animal. Her love for Great Dane dogs was apparent for she always had at least one at her side. And, Joyce learned tolerance when her children introduced her to Basset Hounds.
Joyce Richter is survived by her three children, Chris, Kurt and Karl, granddaughters Kayleen and Amanda, a grandson Kyle and Kane the Dane.
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