Joyce E. Pinkerton

Joyce E. (Mattern) Pinkerton, 67, of Mechanicsburg, PA died Monday, November 18, 2013 at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. For over 43 years she gallantly battled the ravages of multiple sclerosis and complications brought about by that disease. Throughout it all, she never complained and remained a loving and gracious wife, mother and grandmother. Her resilience and positive attitude were remarkable attributes. Her like will not soon be seen again.

Born in Lykens, PA on June 28, 1946, she was a daughter of the late C. Ralph and Alverda (Reitz) Mattern. She is also preceded in death by a sister, Muriel (Mattern) Moll, formerly of West Lawn, PA.

She was a 1964 graduate of the former Lykens High School and received a Bachelor’s degree in Library Science from Shippensburg State College in 1967 and a Masters degree in Library Science from Shippensburg University in 1992.

For over 25 years she loved working as a Children’s Librarian at the West Shore Public Library. One of her greatest joys in that capacity was planning and conducting children’s programs, and, in particular, storytelling. She served on a number of regional children’s library committees and was instrumental in the development and coordination of region-wide children’s programs.

Joyce made life-long friends effortlessly and enjoyed many activities with them, including taking cruises and automobile and bus trips to various parts of the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Europe. She enjoyed interacting with friends at the monthly Pennsylvania Association of Retired State Employees (PARSE) luncheons and monthly breakfasts with friends. In addition, she hosted over sixty book club meetings at her home.

Joyce married her college sweetheart, Gerald C. Pinkerton on November 25, 1967 and shared a wonderful life with him for nearly 46 years. In addition to her husband, she leaves behind a son, Owen, and his wife, Sun Lee, of Falls Church, VA, and a grandson, Logan; a sister, Marjorie (Mattern) Majka, and her husband, Fred, of Exton, PA; twelve nieces; and eleven nephews. Joyce was a loving person who lived for her family and her loss will leave an unfathomable void in their lives. While we will remember Joyce with great fondness, and take great joy in the time we were able to embrace her love, we will never be able to completely heal the pain of her absence.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held Sunday, November 24, 2013 at the Neill Funeral Home, 3401 Market Street, Camp Hill, PA. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 2:30 PM, with the memorial service following.

Because children played such an important role in Joyce’s life, the family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Children’s Hospital of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.