Joyce Price Gordon
Joyce Price Gordon, 90, lifelong resident of Salem, Va., passed away peacefully in the home she loved on Sunday, July 11, 2021, surrounded by friends and family, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
As she went home to be with her Lord and Savior, she was reunited with her much missed and beloved husband of 69 years, Marvin Gordon.
In addition to her husband, she was also predeceased by her parents, Cleatus T. and Algie Smith Price; her brother, Cleatus Thomas Price Jr.; and many other loving family members and friends.
Joyce and Marvin grew up as next-door neighbors from the age of 3, and quickly became childhood sweethearts as they walked to school and rode the bus together. She graduated from Andrew Lewis and went on to business school where she got a degree in accounting. She married Marvin on September 23, 1949, and accompanied him to Germany for six months while he was serving in the Army during the Korean War where they made many happy memories. They built a wonderful life for themselves and their children, Kimi Gordon Binner (Ron), Dawn Gordon Myers (Alan), and Timothy Gordon (Mic). Her work career included working in accounting at Kroger, American Oil, and finally at Valleydale where she spent 32 years before retiring in 1996.
Her passion was serving her Lord at church through music and hospitality. She began playing piano for church at the age of 11, and a few years after began playing the organ which she continued to do for over 65 years. Her gift for hospitality extended even into her home where she and Marvin built a special room called “The Prophet’s Room” for visiting preachers, evangelists, singers, and missionaries. Her near divine culinary gift was endlessly expressed in such a loving way as she organized and provided meals for special church events such as Homecoming, Vacation Bible School, and applebutter fundraisers as well as for grieving families in the loss of a loved one. She dedicated her life to living for the Lord, and her lifelong desire was that her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all would love and serve the Lord and each other.
In addition to her children, she is survived by 7 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren (with another one on the way). Every one of them were her “favorite”. She loved each and every one with all her heart. They were the light of her life. Also surviving are siblings, Doris Price Hill, Russell Price, and Harold D. (H.D.) Price; as well as numerous extended family members and friends.
Kimi, Dawn, and Tim thank the entire family as well as the many friends for the outpouring support during Joyce’s illness and during this difficult time.
A period of visitation will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in the John M. Oakey & Son Chapel in Salem. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2021, also in the chapel. Family and friends may gather once again one hour prior to the service. Interment will immediately follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your choice of the following suggestions: American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Gideons International. Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.
