Joyce Bolton Turbyfill
Joyce Lorraine Wainwright Bolton Turbyfill died peacefully on June 16, 2025, at the age of 91. She was born to Ellen Peters Bolton and Norman Milton Bolton, Sr., on December 25, 1933. When she was born in Fincastle, Virginia, on Christmas morning, her brother, Corky, ran to the neighbors across the street and announced that Santa Claus had brought him a real doll. She was very proud of her Christmas birthday and her family always made sure her special day was not lost in the midst of the Christmas festivities.
Besides Fincastle, Mom lived in Manassas, Va., New York, N.Y., Roanoke County, Va., Cleveland, Ohio, and Salem, Va., but in her heart, she was always a small-town Virginia girl. She travelled the world with her sister-in-law, Shirley Bolton, and they had many adventures in England, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, Monaco (they didn’t gamble), and Hawaii, including taking a helicopter down into a volcano, which scared our risk-averse Mom nearly to death. Mom was also terrified of roller coasters and was furious with us when we encouraged her to ride Space Mountain in Disney World. I don’t think we ever convinced her to get on another amusement park ride after that.
Mom was most proud of being a mother. She adored her children and spent many hours reading to us, teaching us to read, making sure we learned to swim, and thinking of creative projects for us to do. She loved taking us to the library to pick out books. She also gave us the freedom to explore the surrounding neighborhood, woods and hills to an extent that would be unheard of today. We always came trooping home as soon as we heard the black bell she would ring.
Mom loved all things French due to an ardent, but unrealized ambition to learn to speak French. She arranged for Karen’s first grade class to have French lessons after school, and she filled our home with French books and records. Inspired by her passion, Karen took years of French classes and studied in France for a year. As a result of her love of French, many members of the family fulfilled her dream by becoming fluent French-speakers. During our childhood, she was a room mother, member of the PTA (including president), a Sunday School teacher, and an avid tennis player, until she got tennis elbow.
Mom’s greatest joys after her children were her grandchildren. She loved to play with them and took good care of them when their parents went on vacation and left them with her. She was a gentle, sweet grandma, and her grandchildren remember her with much love. She also adored her three great-grandchildren and loved to hear of their successes and antics.
Mom was very patient and kind with others, but she especially treasured her alone time. She loved to read and follow politics. At the end of her life, she loved sitting on her patio, listening to birdsong, and watching hummingbirds feed at her feeder. She had an iron core that kept her going through the many hardships life threw her way. She was especially resilient at the end and lived a year and eight months longer than anyone would have expected after she had a heart attack and stroke. Her doctor admiringly said she was “one tough cookie.” When her daughter noted she had lived at least nine lives, she replied, “And I want more!” We will miss her more than words can say.
Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Ellen Peters and Norman M. Bolton, Sr.; her brother, Norman “Corky” Bolton, Jr., and her brother and best friend, Burton L. Bolton. She is also preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Joe Anna Bolton and many beloved cousins. Her survivors include children, Karen Turbyfill Taylor (Jay) and John Turbyfill, Jr. (LeAnn). Her grandchildren are Jason Turbyfill (Katie), Matthew Turbyfill (Genevieve), Ellen Taylor Jessup McDermott (Joe), and Ryan Taylor (Jordan). Her great- grandchildren are Dylan Turbyfill, Reid Turbyfill, and John Jessup McDermott. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Shirley Bolton; niece, Lynne Bolton; nephews, Mike Bolton and Mark Bolton, and cousins Jeanne Fleur Nye, Carolyn Bolton Lennon and George D. Stevens.
The family would like to thank all of the caregivers who took such good care of Mom for the past year and eight months. We especially want to thank Deanna Hardy, April Wilson, Janie Brown, Davion Arrington, Aniesha Hall, Delight Williams, Ke’lyn Butts, and Dana Rosser.
If you wish to make a donation in memory of Mom, we suggest The American Bird Conservancy.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.
