Joyce Elaine Conner

Joyce graduated from Roosevelt High School and Ohio University. She was employed at Ohio Bell, the University of Dayton, and the City of Kettering. She held several positions with Kettering working as the city’s first Volunteer Coordinator, Coordinator for the Volunteer Firefighters, Committee Member for the Sister City Program, and the Holiday at Home Parade Commentator.

Joyce was preceded in death by the love of her life since Kindergarten - her husband, James “Jim” Conner in 2012. She was also preceded by siblings, Judy Shroyer, Nancy Hess, and Gerald Furrey.

Joyce is survived by daughter, Rochelle “Shelley” (David) Williamson; son, Mike (Judy) Conner; grandchildren, Heather (Andrew) Karpuk, and Timmy Conner; great grandchildren, Kylan, Gavin and Hazel.

Visitation will be held Friday, December 5th from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm at Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren, 800 E. David Road in Kettering. Funeral services will be on Saturday, December 6th at 11:30 am at the church. For a complete obituary or to send condolences go to www.Tobiasfuneralhome.com

Joyce gained national recognition for creating and developing the City of Kettering’s ACTIVE Volunteer Program and it became a model for other cities to replicate. She often spoke at state and national conferences on volunteerism and received numerous honors and awards for her achievements. Joyce was also very instrumental in coordinating the volunteer Fire Department for the City of Kettering while it was still active. In addition, she was very involved with the city’s Sister City Program, often hosting guests from those cities and even traveling to Steyr, Austria in 2016 as an Ambassador for the City of Kettering. Joyce was named one of the Top Ten Women of Dayton by the Dayton Daily News in 1983 and was honored by the Kiwanis Club as their Citizen of the Year in 2000.

Joyce also enjoyed her long-time friendships with her fellow graduates of Roosevelt High School, as well as her fellow sorority sisters from the Ohio University chapter of Sigma Kappa. Joyce married her high school sweetheart, Jim, and they enjoyed many wonderful years together until Jim’s passing in 2012. They loved traveling together, especially driving to visit the many sights, wineries, and lighthouses in Ohio and throughout the Great Lakes region. She loved spending time with her family. After their son, Mike, moved to Florida in 1985, they enjoyed many wonderful visits to spend time with his family and eventually became “snowbirds” and stayed in a condo for three months out of the year in Pompano Beach for over 15 years…making several new friendships that she still cherished up until her passing.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to We Care Arts at 3035 Wilmington Pike, Kettering, Ohio 45429, and through their website at https://www.wecarearts.org/take-action