Joyce Hollowell Miller Rice

October 13, 1927 – September 10, 2022

On September 10, 2022, Joyce Hollowell Miller Rice passed away peacefully of natural causes in Plano, TX. Joyce was 94 years old.

Joyce Hollowell was born in Danville, Indiana on October 13, 1927. She was the daughter of Edna Karolyn (Hawley) and Robert Hollowell, Jr. Joyce married Dr. Edward Dwayne Miller in 1949 and later married Jack Woodard Rice in 1994.

She received degrees from Stephens College (AA), Michigan State University (BS) and Indiana University (MS).

Joyce’s career centered around creativity and design. She taught Home Economics at Plainfield High School and later taught Window Treatment and Textiles at Indiana University - Purdue University in Fort Wayne. She also did interior design for customers. She owned a store (Joyce Shop) in Danville, Indiana, employing other seamstresses, making patterns, and creating women’s clothing.

Joyce was an avid reader, often reading as many as 10 books per week. She enjoyed traveling and visited 31 states and 7 countries. She had lived in Danville, Indiana, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mountain Brook, Alabama, and Fremont, Indiana (on Lake George), and Plano, Texas. She enjoyed entertaining friends and family at her home.

Joyce was deeply involved in her communities throughout her life. Her civic and social organizations included Kappa Kappa Gamma (Michigan State), Pi Chapter of Psi Iota Xi (honorary member), Senior Citizen’s Travel Office Volunteer, Alliance of Fort Wayne Museum, Fort Wayne Medical Auxiliary, Fort Wayne Philharmonic Women’s Committee, Fine Arts Foundation, and Fort Wayne Art League. She was a Girl Scout Leader in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Mountain Brook, Alabama. She was also a Girl Scout Coordinator for Girl Scout Roundup in Idaho in the 1950s.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Janet Hollowell Kulka, daughter, Deborah “Debbi” Jo Hildebrand, first husband, Dr. Edward Miller, husband, Jack Woodard Rice, and step-daughter Janet Marie Sawchuk.

Joyce is survived by her daughters: Victoria “Vicki” Jane (Stephen) Craig and Rebecca “Becki” Sue (Denis) Drury; sons-in-law: Gary Hildebrand and Alan (Diana) Sawchuck; grandchildren: Jeremy (Melanie) Craig, Melissa (Kevin) Spall, Greg (Maggie) Hildebrand, Brad (Lauren) Hildebrand, Stephanie (Ryan) Crites, Christopher (Andrea) Drury, Tamara (Kurt) Klobassa; step-grandchildren: Ryan (Elena) Sawchuk and Rachel (Robert) Grugeon; and great-grandchildren: Kessa, Patrick John, Owen, David, James, Maxwell, Hadley, Chase.

Viewing will be at Beams Funeral Home in Fremont, Indiana on Saturday September 17, 2022 from 11 am until 1 pm.

Funeral Services will be at Beams Funeral Home in Fremont, Indiana on Saturday September 17, 2022 at 1 pm following visitation. Pastor Jim Erwin will officiate the service.

The Funeral Service will be available via live stream on the Beams Funeral Home facebook page.

Burial will be at Danville South Cemetery in Danville, Indiana.

Donations may be made to Macular Degeneration in lieu of flowers (www.macularhope.org/donate). You may have your donation be dedicated in memory of Joyce Rice ([email protected]).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.beamsfuneralhome.com for the Miller Rice family.