Ellen Halvorson

ELLEN JOYE HALVORSON, age 70, passed away at her home in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday, June 11, 2017. She was born February 12, 1947, in Columbia, South Carolina to F. Milton “Joye” and Sarah (Greer) Joye. Ellen graduated from Dreher High School in Columbia, SC in 1965 and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina in 1969. She was a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing. She started her nursing career as a staff nurse in the medical-surgical area of care at the Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia before changing focus and moving on the neurological and neurosurgeon nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina Hospital in Charleston where she eventually found her true calling in pediatrics. She returned to school and received a Master of Science in Nursing and a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certificate from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. This led to a position as an Instructor of Nursing, Pediatrics and Fundamentals at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Ellen loved nursing and influenced others to enter the nursing field. She later moved back to Charleston and took a position as an Educational Coordinator at MUSC where she stayed until 1984 when she married the love of her life, Warren Halvorson, and lived the life of an Army wife for several years always contributing something to the health care field having worked in Arlington, VA, at the Rhein-Main Air Force Base, Germany, in Santa Monica and Long Beach, CA and in Columbus, GA. She worked as a Medical Management Coordinator or Utilization Management Analyst in both California and Columbus. After settling in the Atlanta area, Ellen worked as a medical management or patient care coordinator for several health care insurance providers which encompassed a large educational component, risk management interventions, referral to appropriate agencies to members with complex health care needs. Ellen was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, had a strong love for her two cats; was a member and former Elder and Deacon of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. In the midst of Ellen’s very busy work life, her love of country, desire to travel, and need to help others influenced her in deciding to receive a direct commission in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps, Reserves in 1972 as a 1st Lieutenant. Her first assignment was in the newly formed 31st Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Charleston AFB, SC where she served as a Flight Nurse until the move to Germany where she became an Individual Mobilization Augmentee. She devoted sixteen years to the Reserve Program but was unable to achieve retirement due to life circumstances. She attended USAF Flight Nurse Course, Brooks AFB, TX, the Bird Respirator Course, USAF Nursing Management Course, Squadron Officer School, and Air Command and Staff College. She achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During her tenure on flying status, she was indirectly involved in the evacuation of Jonestown, Guyana and the evacuation of wounded from Grenada. Ellen was qualified as a flight nurse in both the C-141B and C-9 aircraft, did tours in Panama, Germany, and several bases in the U.S. As a Flight Instructor, she was responsible for the educational component associated with the care of patients aboard the aircraft during aero medical evacuation. She is survived by her husband Warren Halvorson; brothers Frank and Ned Joye of Columbia, SC; nieces Jennifer Varn (Joye) of Lexington, South Carolina and Beth Joye of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, a nephew, Frank M. Joye III of Columbia, South Carolina two great nephews Joshua and Noah Varn of Lexington, South Carolina and several cousins. A memorial service will be held at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 4882 LaVista Road, Tucker, GA on June 24, 2017 at 2 PM. Interment of ashes will be at Ft Jackson National Military Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia, South Carolina, on July 14, 2017 at 2 PM.