Joyce Hartford Johnston

Joyce was born in Uniontown, PA on March 24, 1942. She spent most of her childhood in Clarksburg, WV where she spent many happy hours with her beloved horse ‘Duffer’. In July of 1967, she married, Bob, the love of her life and her devoted husband for 53 years. In their honeymoon years, the two of them traveled often, visiting friends and exploring the sights in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and the Caribbean, to name just a few.

In the early summer of 1969, her focus turned from travel to family life with the birth of her first son, Rob, followed 3 years later by her youngest son, Todd.

Early years as a wife and mother were filled with the usual escapades and adventures associated with raising two young boys. Summer trips to the American southwest in the family motor home became a never-ending source of memories and stories to be shared with family and friends.

As her family grew, so too did her collections of stunning marbles, Native American artifacts, and unique pieces of art. Her eye for heirlooms led her to spend many a Saturday combing thrift shops and the classifieds for that ‘one of a kind’ rarity that always filled her with great satisfaction. She was an avid reader of mystery novels, a whiz at trivia, and a great lover of scholarship.

In her later years, she was blessed with four grandchildren who brought her great joy. No visit to Grandma’s was complete without plenty of chocolate chip cookies, M&M’s, and great big hugs. Her legacy will live on through her carefully procured and tended day-lily garden which greets each season with festive blooms named after each of her beloved family members.

Joyce is survived by her husband Bob, brother Don (Betsy), her sons Rob (Dawn) and Todd (Stephanie), her step-daughter Jessie (Russ), her four grandchildren, Andy, Dylan, Emily, & Cameron, and her step-grandsons Russell & Turner.

Funeral services will be held at the Aycock Funeral Home on Sunday, February 21, 2021. Visitation from 2:00-4:00pm followed by a funeral service at 4:00pm.

Joyce will be laid to rest near her mountain home in Highlands, NC on Sunday, February 28th at 2:00pm.