Joyce Lopez

Our Mums Life: Her Adventure Joyce Lopez August 1937 to November 2017 Joyce was born and raised in Huyton near Liverpool, England. Being born just before WWII the family; big brother George and his mum Edith were later evacuated to Wales, where baby sister Jean was born. Like many other families they were evacuated because of the Germans bombing the cities, like Liverpool. In England during and after the War there was a scarcity of most staples let alone luxuries. This time shaped her generous nature and the way she always made sure there was more than enough. Growing up, Joyce and George developed a strong lifelong bond; George was the rock she leaned on all her life. After finishing school, Joyce worked at a chemist (pharmacy) and then running a National Accounting Machine for a factory wage office. Joyce loved socializing, dancing, music, shopping and Looking Good; like any 17 year old would. It’s at this time that she met my Father, Garlin Ford, at the RAF base at Burtonwood. After a short time young love took over and they decided to get married; and with my Nan’s permission (just) they made arrangements. Joyce left Liverpool at 17 to sail to America and get married; she had her 18th birthday on the boat going over. She would end up at Long beach California; they got married in a small white Methodist church on Atlantic Avenue, where a year later they would christen their first born. After Long Beach their next duty station was in Germany, her sister Anne came to stay for a while. Next she went to Loring Air Force Base, Limestone Maine; the forest and deep snow was a new experience for this city girl. Loring was the closest B52 bomber base to the USSR and during the Cuban missile Crisis; Garlin called Joyce from the base and told her to take Dale and leave, but she got Dale and took refuge under the kitchen table like in the Blitz. At this time her children James and Darla were born, true Maine’iacs. Next she went back to England when Garlin went to Vietnam for a year. She and her 3 children moved in with her mum and sisters, Anne and Susan. Dale, James, Darla and later Joe got to know the whole family and spent many holidays and good times together over the next 9 years. Next, when Garlin returned they were stationed at RAF Mildenhall. Soon after his return it was clear that the marriage was over, the next few years were lean as the process worked through. Now Joyce needed to provide for her children and she did selflessly. While living in Sawston, a small country village, she worked at Spencer’s paper mill. While living in Newmarket, the racehorse capital of the U.K., she worked at the Rutland Arms, a very nice horsey Hotel, as a Silver Service Waitress. Also, she worked at the Air Force bases NCO and Officer Clubs. When Garlin’s tour was up; he went back to the US and started a new family, Joyce met a guy that turned out to be the sweetest, most generous man on the planet. Arthur “Joe” Lopez was also in the Air Force, he was stationed at RAF Lakenheath. As love goes, they got married in the Base Chapel with most of the family in attendance. Only a few pictures were taken at the Base Chapel, that was not the plan; off everyone went to Ely Cathedral, a large grand Gothic Cathedral, for the bulk of the pictures-great fun for all. At the wedding dinner, Joyce had Dale and Susan pretend to be the married couple and dance the wedding dance together. The final stop was when Arthur brought the family to George AFB, Victorville. Now the desert was a place that took getting used to, but she would end up there 43 years. Joyce and Joe bought a house and retired from the Air Force. Joe started working for various Cement Plants; his last job was driving the train, which he loved. Joyce continued working at the NCO and Officers Clubs while on George AFB. Joyce joined the British Wives Club and was the Treasurer for a time. She made many lifelong friends at the wives club some of which were regular visitors to the care facility. The big sorrows of her life were the loss of her mother Edith and later her brother George. A big joy in her life was to “Mother” her children; sometimes they weren’t enough and she would adopt some more. Joyce adopted James’ Bros; John, Tim and Carl; She adopted Darla’s friend Jeanne; they called her Mom and she treated them like it. Joyce will be remembered for her sense of humor, kind heart, adventurous spirit and a smile that would light up a room. She never lost her love of socializing, dancing, music, shopping and Looking Good. Joyce leaves behind her devoted Husband of 49 years, Arthur “Joe” Lopez; her loving Children, Dale Ford, James Ford and Darla (Ford) Tracy; Siblings, Jean, Anne, Susan, Cousin Barbara, many Nieces and Nephews, and many close friends