Joyce M. (Brumbaugh) Young

Joyce Margaret Brumbaugh Young of Otter Creek Township went to be with her Lord and Savior on July 21st, 2019.   She was 85.

Joyce was born at home in Spring Creek, PA to the late Letha Mary Fox and Homer Eugene Brumbaugh.  Joyce married her husband, William (Bill) Luther Young, on December 29th, 1950 in her family home on Wise Road.  They had only known each other for 3 weeks and one day.  Joyce and Bill spent their first year of marriage in Wahiawa, Hawaii where Bill was stationed in the Navy.

Joyce is survived by 5 children: Robert E and wife Paulette Young of Greenville, Aletha (Amy) M Jenkins of Fredonia, Thomas M and wife Terri Young of Mercer, Dana J and wife Connie Young of Albion, and Deanna J and husband Joseph Kepler of Mercer.   Her grandchildren are Michelle L Young of Greenville, Tabitha A and husband Robert Knight of Inman, S.C., Tammy J and husband Thomas Haring of Kutztown, Chad W and wife Anita Jenkins of Hadley, Brad A and wife Emily Jenkins of Mercer, Amanda L and husband Jason Riddle of Grove City, Virginia L Young and her companion Angie Merritt of Sharon, Jennifer M Young of Albion, Joseph A Young and his companion Nicole Pettis of Springboro, Brittany J and husband Justin Brothers of South Heights, Philip L B Young of Erie, and Zayne M Williams of Mercer.  Joyce’s step-grandchildren are Tanner L Kepler of Greenville, Reade H and wife Rebecca Kepler of Lancaster.  Joyce is also survived by 22 great grandchildren, 4 step-great grandchildren, and 2 great, great grandchildren.  God blessed her life with the following Foster children: Shawn Durstine, Phil Cutrucco, Wayne Ayers, Christopher and Richard Santell, Judy Davis, Jill Brown, Gary Myers, Russel Neely, Jennifer Titus Taub, Darlene Korab Morris, Jennifer and Capri Reiss, Jessica Lear, Mary Eakman, Diane Fennell, Elaine DeWolf, Jessica Deeter, Janie and Terry Spooner, and Patricia Bennrfield Horsey.  Joyce and Bill had 9 foreign exchange students as well.  Joyce is survived by many nieces and nephews that she loved very much.  She is also survived by her cousin, Violet Morrison, N.C., who was as close as a sister and Tammy Lumley was like an adopted granddaughter and provided care to Joyce while at the Nursing Home.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Harold E and Forrest T Brumbaugh, a son Duane (Eddie) Young (aged 5 months), a granddaughter Brenda Kay Jenkins, and a son-in-law George P Jenkins.

Joyce lived a very fulfilling and exciting life.  She attended a one room school in the Greenville area and later Penn High.  In 1954, Joyce received her GED from The American School in Chicago, Ill.  Joyce became a Christian in 1956 and has served in many positions in the churches she attended.  Most recently, she was a member of the Country Chapel.  Her faith was very important to her and guided her throughout her life.

Joyce lived on a farm all her life, with the exception of the year she and Bill lived in Hawaii.  She often said if she wanted to see her husband and sons much, she better learn to farm.  Joyce did a lot of disking and baling hay and straw.  When Bill and Joyce bought their first farm, Joyce learned how to milk cows, separate the cream from the milk, and churn it into butter.  Every Friday night, she would take 2 or 3 pounds to the sale barn where Wal-Mart now sits and sold it for $1 per pound.  At that time, you could buy a gallon of gas or a loaf of bread for 10 cents.  She always provided large family meals because they just could not afford to eat out.  In her later years, Joyce really enjoyed eating out.  She often said the three words she really enjoyed hearing were “let’s eat out”.  

Joyce had many different types of jobs and activities over her lifetime.  She worked at Woolworth in 1952 and later at Blazon for 4 years.  In 1960, she was elected as Justice of the Peace in her Township.  She resigned that position in 1972 when she was appointed as Secretary/Treasurer for Otter Creek Township.  She served in this role until 2011.  Joyce also served as Receiver of Wage Tax from 1996 until 2013.  In 1973, she served one term on the Advisory Board of the Mercer County Senior Citizens.  In 1975 she took part in a 4-week program sponsored by the Kellogg’s company.   During the late 1980’s she placed foreign exchange students with Youth for Understanding and later for the Nacel Program.  In 2001, Joyce completed 21 articles for the Mercer County Bicentennial Book 2000 for the last 100 years.  She worked for the Hallmark Company placing cards at the local Wal-Mart from 2003 through 2006.  She also worked for an independent company putting out magazines during that time period.  In 2007, she took part in the Three Rivers Walk to Emmaus spiritual retreat.  She also helped her husband with Release Time in the Reynolds school district. 

Joyce loved to travel and go camping.  Bill and Joyce were able to take their dream trip to Australia in 1996.  Joyce enjoyed reading and completing jigsaw puzzles.  She collected plates, peacocks, hummingbirds, and lighthouses.  Many of her plates are collector editions from all over the world.  You will find her collections in every room in her home.  Joyce also frequently went to see her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren when they played sports, participated in school activities, and church functions.  Joyce was very helpful to anyone in need and always tried to be the peace maker in any family matters.  She was loved very much and will be missed by many.

The funeral service and committal  will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2019 at 11:00 am at the Robert L. Snyder Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. with Rev. Dennis Milford, pastor of the Country Chapel and Rev. Connie Young, daughter in law and associate pastor of the Albion Nazarene church co-officiating.  The internment will follow at America’s Cemetery, Hermitage.  Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2:00 – 4:00 and 6:00- 8:00 and on Thursday from 10:00 am until 11:00 am.

The family has suggested that memorial tributes may be made the Country Chapel Missions Fund. 275 Kennard – Osgood Road, Greenville, PA. 16125

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