IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Joyce Ann
Brown
July 13, 1931 – March 9, 2015
Obituary
Joyce Ann Layton Brown passed away on March 9, 2015, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. One of her many "children" called Joyce a titan of a woman, caring mother to hundreds, nurturing matriarch of her family, and a dignified sufferer of a debilitating disease.
Joyce was born July 13, 1931, in Marion, Ohio to Annabelle and Francis Layton. She grew up with her best friend, her brother Jim. She was an outstanding graduate of Harding High School. In 1951 she married her high school sweetheart, Cecil "Charlie" Brown. Cecil, a career Air Force sergeant, immediately left for Korea while Joyce worked in the journalism field. In 1953 they started their family of five children. The Air Force brought the Browns to Lompoc in 1963, and like so many "wandering" military families, they embraced Lompoc as home.
Joyce, a cancer survivor and active military wife, lived in Ohio, South Dakota, New York, Turkey, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and finally California. She was seen flipping hamburgers in front of the VAFB gym as a fundraiser for her son's basketball team, serving on the PTA at Westwings Elementary, coaching youth cheerleaders, serving as a Girl Scout leader, and being Mother Advisor to the Lompoc Rainbow Girls. While raising her five children and being actively involved, Joyce returned to school and earned her degree in Early Childhood Education. She eventually supervised all the Youth Services at VAFB as the Child Care Director. Joyce also taught courses at Allan Hancock College and represented VAFB at conferences for the military child.
Joyce was a loving mother to her own children and her many "adopted" children. As another "daughter" stated, Mom was an inspiration, funny, strong, no-nonsense; a beautiful spirit that shaped the family.
She is preceded in death by her husband Cecil "Charlie" Brown and her son, Mark Layton Brown and her son-in-law, Al Walker. She is survived by her children Cecilia Brown Walker, Kathryn (KJ) Wittmann (Tom), Matthew Brown (Crystal Centeno), and Cheryl Fulghum (Charles "Chip"), as well at 14 grandchildren, 5 great- grandchildren, and 4 nieces.
Joyce's family expresses great gratitude to the loving staff at the Comprehensive Care Center, Dr. Gil Anderson and Dr. Phil Ente and Carolyn Mears Terrones who all aided in her care.
Services will be graveside at the Lompoc Cemetery on Saturday, March 14 at 10 am.
Joyce was born July 13, 1931, in Marion, Ohio to Annabelle and Francis Layton. She grew up with her best friend, her brother Jim. She was an outstanding graduate of Harding High School. In 1951 she married her high school sweetheart, Cecil "Charlie" Brown. Cecil, a career Air Force sergeant, immediately left for Korea while Joyce worked in the journalism field. In 1953 they started their family of five children. The Air Force brought the Browns to Lompoc in 1963, and like so many "wandering" military families, they embraced Lompoc as home.
Joyce, a cancer survivor and active military wife, lived in Ohio, South Dakota, New York, Turkey, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and finally California. She was seen flipping hamburgers in front of the VAFB gym as a fundraiser for her son's basketball team, serving on the PTA at Westwings Elementary, coaching youth cheerleaders, serving as a Girl Scout leader, and being Mother Advisor to the Lompoc Rainbow Girls. While raising her five children and being actively involved, Joyce returned to school and earned her degree in Early Childhood Education. She eventually supervised all the Youth Services at VAFB as the Child Care Director. Joyce also taught courses at Allan Hancock College and represented VAFB at conferences for the military child.
Joyce was a loving mother to her own children and her many "adopted" children. As another "daughter" stated, Mom was an inspiration, funny, strong, no-nonsense; a beautiful spirit that shaped the family.
She is preceded in death by her husband Cecil "Charlie" Brown and her son, Mark Layton Brown and her son-in-law, Al Walker. She is survived by her children Cecilia Brown Walker, Kathryn (KJ) Wittmann (Tom), Matthew Brown (Crystal Centeno), and Cheryl Fulghum (Charles "Chip"), as well at 14 grandchildren, 5 great- grandchildren, and 4 nieces.
Joyce's family expresses great gratitude to the loving staff at the Comprehensive Care Center, Dr. Gil Anderson and Dr. Phil Ente and Carolyn Mears Terrones who all aided in her care.
Services will be graveside at the Lompoc Cemetery on Saturday, March 14 at 10 am.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joyce Ann Brown, please visit our flower store.
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