Billie "Joyce" Winkle

Joyce was a beautiful reflection of God’s love. She was a sincere, caring Christian woman who did so much to share God’s love, to shine His light, and to bring joy to life. She radiated that love to her family, friends, and everyone she encountered.

Joyce was born in Wise County, Texas, the first child of Albert and Addie North. The North family moved to the community of Webb, Texas, in Tarrant County, when she was still a child. The family owned and operated a dairy, and working the dairy was a big part of their daily life. Joyce learned how to drive a tractor long before she learned how to drive a car. She was dubbed “Webb’s Little Songbird” by neighbors who heard her singing while she plowed. The North family were members of Webb Baptist Church, where Joyce was a lifelong member.

Joyce graduated high school in Mansfield in 1954, and shortly after married Stanley Hoel, a Navy Veteran, in and they had two daughters, Vivian and Pamela. Stan passed of leukemia in 1960. Joyce said she would never remarry unless God sent her a man who was a Christian and a widower who could understand what she had been through. God answered her prayer in 1968, when she married Calvin Winkle, a WWII Veteran and widower with an adopted daughter, Connie. Together they provided a loving, Christian home and raised their daughters as a blended family.

After Calvin retired, they bought an RV and traveled across the U.S. They joined a Christian group of RV-ers called the Friendship Club, with whom they enjoyed many fun times camping, having potluck dinners, playing games, and fellowshipping. Joyce and Calvin shared their lives together for 43 years, until Calvin’s passing in 2012.

Joyce had many names – Sweetheart, Momma, Nana, Gigi, Auntie Joyce, Sissy – all terms of endearment used by her family. She was dearly loved by her family, fellow church members, as well as others in the community. Joyce’s Christian spirit and servant’s heart showed in the way she ministered to others. She shared her beautiful voice by participating in the church choir, frequently taught Vacation Bible School and Sunday School, led a Girl Scout group, and participated in the church’s Clown Ministry as “JoJo,” bringing joy to the senior citizens they visited. She would volunteer her time to give a sick neighbor a ride to the doctor or provide food for families in need or who were grieving. She must have sent thousands of greeting cards over the years on family and friends’ birthdays and anniversaries, as well as holidays and in times of illness or grief. She always had the right words to show how caring and compassionate she genuinely was.

Joyce was well-known for wearing butterfly or angel pins on her shoulder as if one had landed there. It brought a smile to her face and a twinkle in her eye when people would comment about how a butterfly landed on her shoulder. She loved butterflies as well as flowers, which frequently adorned her table. She enjoyed plants, gardening, and watching birds – hummingbirds were her favorites. She loved to read Christian books, and she inspired a love of reading in each of her three daughters.

In Joyce’s later years, she attended Sublett Road Baptist Church when she was able, as it was close to her home in Arlington. She cherished her friends in the church’s Hug-A-Bunch ladies group fellowship – her spirits were always lifted when she spent time with them. She also enjoyed getting together with her sister, Liz, and their friends in the Hattitudes lunch bunch.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Hoel; her second husband, Calvin Winkle; her parents Albert and Addie North; and great granddaughter, Faith Stidham.

She is survived by her three daughters, Vivian Stidham; Pam Watson and husband Mark; and Connie Winkle; six grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren; her brother, David North and wife, Carol; sister, Liz Sloan; and brother, Leroy North.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of Joyce’s favorite charities, Mission Arlington at missionarlington.org or In Touch Ministries, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley at www.intouch.org.