John Edgar Joy

Services: A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 10:00 AM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Keith Schukraft officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens. Visitation: Viewing/Visitation will be held on Friday, January 11, 2008 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home where Prayers will be said at 7:00 PM. John Edgar Joy, Sr., 82, of Loveville, MD died January 8, 2008 at his residence. Born July 13, 1925 in Loveville, MD he was the son of the late George Edgar and Anna Missouri Wathen Joy. He was the loving husband of the late Mary Rita Owens Joy whom he married on October 5, 1946 in Our Lady’s Chapel, Medley’s Neck, MD and who preceded him in death on November 14, 2001. He is survived by his children; Ruth Joy Coombs and her husband Ira John, Betty Joy Thomas and her husband C. George, all of Loveville, MD and John Edgar Joy, Jr. of Prescott, AZ as well as 7 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Madeline McCreary of Baltimore, MD. He was a judge at the local election poles from 1947 to the early 1980’s. He was a driver for the State Highway Administration (SHA) for 17 years, retiring in 1986. Many times, while working for SHA, he took prisoners to trash pick-up sites on the local highways and would oversee them, giving them advice on how to walk the straight and narrow path. They fondly called him Pappy. He raised English Setters, sold milk, eggs, firewood and livestock. He worked as a construction foreman. He even did some bartending to make extra money in his younger years. His passion, however, was working the land. He and his wife Rita bought the old Bishop Place in Loveville and turned it into a profitable tobacco farm. He dreamed of owning this land as a teenager and worked tirelessly to make his dream come true. He retired from farming in 2001. His true claim to fame is his compassion, tenderness and strength, all of which he used to help others. He was a dynamic father and grandfather who will always be remembered as the tall, strong “Gindy” with the gentle hands. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 11, 2008 from 5:00-8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, MD where prayers will be held at 7:00 PM. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 10:00 AM with Rev. Keith Schukraft officiating. Interment will follow in the Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. Pallbearers will be Frankie Bussler, Chris Bistline, Tommy Alvey, Kim Bistline, Bryan Thomas Sr. and Linda Richards. Honorary pallbearers will be A.J. Bussler (HAT), Mary Dean, Gloria Jean Pilkerton, Ann Pilkterton and Glenn Pilkerton. Contributions may be made to Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 299, Leonardtown, MD 20650 and/or Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 50, Leonardtown, MD 20650.