Joy Bible, age 75 (pictured at right from the 1959 Spy), passed away on Monday, December 7, 2015, at her home surrounded by loved ones. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Harold R. Bible; her son, Mark and his wife, Shirley; her daughter, Rebecca and her husband, Sean; her daughter, Sarah; her grandchildren, Kaitlin, Ashlen, Christopher, Connor, Hannah, and Liam; and her brother Milton.
Joy was born and raised in Kenosha, WI. She graduated from University of Wisconsin in 1963 with a degree in physical therapy. It was that vocation that led her to meet Harold while both were employed at Adult Curative Rehabilitation Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They married in May 1964 and moved to Maryland that year and then to Bowie in 1968.
Joy and Harold joined Christian Community Presbyterian Church that same year and have been faithful members since that time. Joy’s family and CCPC were the center of her life. She served as a Deacon, a Session Member, and a leader in the Women’s Circle and Women of Faith and in so many other capacities in support of her beloved church family. Joy loved to write and excelled at doing so. She often wrote columns for the “Deacon’s Corner.”
Joy was an incredibly loving and dedicated mother and grandmother. “Nanny” never allowed distance to keep her from having very close and supportive relationships with each of her grandchildren. From soccer games to dance recitals to graduations, Joy and Harold were always in the audience with huge smiles during the event and ready with congratulatory hugs and kisses afterwards. She loved to travel and realized a lifelong dream of visiting Australia and New Zealand. Joy was an outstanding cook and loved to do so for her family and friends. The “more the merrier” she would say for dinner parties or pot luck meals at home or church. Joy always kept a warm, loving and inviting home that was as welcoming to lifelong friends as it was to new acquaintances.
Joy was aptly named as her calling in life was to love and bring joy to all those who were blessed to know and meet her. Her joy, compassion, and love for her friends were pure and unconditional. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, December 27 at 1:00 PM in the Sanctuary. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bible family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in her name to MPN Research Foundation, 180 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1870, Chicago, IL 60601.