Thursday, March 28, 2024

Obituary of Joyce Ann Harwell , 53

Name of Deceased Joyce Ann Harwell
Age 53
Date of Death 09/17/2011
Date of Birth 03/25/1958
Funeral Home Koch Funeral Home

Joyce Ann Harwell, 53, passed away on September 17, 2011, in State College, Pennsylvania. Born on March 25, 1958, in Enid, Oklahoma, she is the daughter of Rev. Dr. Harvey Owen Wilfred, Jr., and Agnes June (Williams) Wilfred. She was baptized in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by her father. She graduated from Flanagan (Illinois) High School in 1976. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology/Social Work from Phillips University (Enid, Oklahoma) in 1980. While a freshman at Phillips she met Kevin Ray Harwell. They dated off and on throughout college and were married in San Antonio, Texas, on August 14, 1982. Together they lived in Austin, Texas, and Stillwater, Oklahoma before moving to State College in 1990.

Joyce was a woman of tremendous strength and faith. She devoted much of her time and love to taking care of her family. She was a source of strength for her many friends. She was an active member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, where she served for several years as nursery coordinator. She coordinated prayer partners for the annual youth mission trip to Tennessee. She served on the Church Council and the Staff Parish Relations Committee. She was active in women’s bible study and Quilters of Faith fellowship.

From 1990 until very recently, she worked in the Interlibrary Loan department at the Penn State University Libraries and managed the department for many years. As coordinator of Interlibrary Loan continuous quality improvement teams she led her department as they developed numerous innovations to provide timely delivery of materials to faculty and students of Penn State.

Joyce enjoyed camping and traveling with her family, especially long road trips to the beach and to visit friends and family across the country. She was an avid NASCAR fan. She enjoyed quilting, shopping for fabric and weekend quilting retreats with friends.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Kevin, and sons, Ethan and Adam; her brother-in-law Dennis Harwell and wife, Kim, of San Antonio; and her sister-in-law Carolyn Harwell Turk and husband, Buckey of Bryan, Texas; nieces and nephews Sarah Harwell of Juneau, Alaska; Adell Harwell Grim and husband, Evan, of Austin; Kristine Jones Shafer and husband, Drew, of Austin; Brian Jones of San Antonio; Amanda Turk Clair and husband, P.J., of Dallas; Clara and Elizabeth Turk of Bryan, Texas; two great-nephews, Dillon David Shafer of Austin, and Luke Travis Clair of Dallas; and special family friends Greg and Tammi Cash and their children, Abbi, Hope and Noah.

A memorial service will be held 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, 2011, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church with Reverend Dr. G. Edwin Zeiders officiating. A memorial fund in tribute to Joyce is being established at St. Paul’s. Those who wish may make contributions to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 109 McAllister Street, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, specifying “Harwell Family Mission Scholarship” in the memo, or they may contribute to the charity of their choice.