Joyce Ann Rathfon

Joyce was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, on February 5, 1964, a daughter of Bruce and Elaine Rathfon of State College, Pennsylvania.

In addition to her parents, Joyce is survived by her brother Willliam L. Rathfon and sister-in-law Dana Reed of Lahaina, Hawaii, and by her sister Ellen L. Rathfon and nieces Vivian and Anna Rathfon of Alexandria, Virginia. Joyce is also survived by nieces and nephews in Colorado and more than 20 cousins across the country.

Joyce graduated from State College Area High School in 1982 and from Penn State University in 1987 with a degree in physical education and athletic training. She graduated with honors from Boston University in 1989 with a master’s degree in physical therapy. She was employed as a physical therapist at the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center for the state of Virginia in Fishersville, Virginia, in 1989, and later at Augusta Health and Augusta Hospital until her death.

She made medical mission trips to China, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Guatemala, where she provided physical therapy and wheel chair fittings. She was looking forward to a return trip to Guatemala in the spring of 2019.

Joyce loved the outdoors, was an avid hiker, and enjoyed fishing. She was an animal lover and fostered German Shepherd dogs for more than 20 years with Virginia German Shepherd Rescue.

Joyce will be greatly missed by all of her family, friends, and colleagues.

A memorial service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in State College on Monday, October 8, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Scott Schul officiating. Friends and family will be received at Grace Lutheran Church prior to the service.

A local memorial service will be held by Joyce’s Waynesboro “family,” on Sunday, October 21, 2018, at Coyner Springs Park (shelter area). Pre-service reflections will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the service will begin at 11:00 a.m. For further details, please contact Mary Breister, [email protected] or 540-480-1103 (cell).

In lieu of flowers, family and friends request that gifts in Joyce’s memory be sent to Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, P.O. Box 733, Centreville, VA 20122, www.shepherdrescue.org; Caring for Creatures, 352 Sanctuary Lane, Palmyra, VA 22963, http://caringforcreatures.org/; or Faith in Practice, 7500 Beechnut Street, Suite 208, Houston, TX 77074 or www.faithinpractice.org.

Relatives and friends may share condolences and memories with the family online by visiting www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com