Foster, Joycelyn V.

Mrs. Joycelyn V. (Joy) Foster, 74, of Christiansburg, Va., passed away at her residence surrounded by her two children, Michael Paul and Elizabeth Foster Stanziale, after a five-year battle with cancer. Born on August 11, 1935, in Besoco, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late George Edward Via Sr. and Burgia E. Via.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Jack E. Via; sister, Jewel V. Smith; as well as brother-in-law, Hugh W. Huff Jr. In addition to her children, she is survived by her beloved grandsons, Dominick and Christopher Stanziale and son-in-law, Rick Stanziale, of Jefferson, Ga.; brothers, George E. Via Jr., of Richmond, Va., and Dr. David L. Via and wife, Betsy, of Virginia Beach, Va.; sister, Hope Shrewsberry, of Roanoke, Va.; sister-in-law, Mrs. (Ann) Hugh W. Huff, of Pulaski, Va.; many special nieces and nephews.

Joy graduated from Christiansburg High School in 1952. She attended Radford College for a time but chose to marry the love of her life, Paul H. Foster Jr. She was married for six years before losing him to cancer, leaving her to raise two children. While working as a library aide in the Montgomery County Public School System, she went to Radford College at night to obtain her BS degree in business and her MS degree in Library Media Specialist. She worked as a librarian at Christiansburg Primary School and Auburn High School. She was chosen by the Marquis WHO’S Who Publications Board to be included in their 1993 to 1994 edition of Who’s Who of American Women. She was also honored at the Virginia Educational Media Association meeting in 1999 with the Meritorious Service Award based on her exemplary service.

After 28 years in the public school system, Joy retired in 2000. She remained active with the Montgomery County Retired Teachers’ Association and served on the board of the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library. She was an active member of Christiansburg Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir for 56 years and was an ordained Elder. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren; and enjoyed volunteering at the Montgomery County Museum, playing bridge with her friends, traveling, special beach trips, reading, movies, and was always up for eating out with friends.

Her children are eternally grateful for the strong spirit, determination, hard work, and perseverance that she demonstrated throughout her entire life and illness and all the ways she took care of them until her death. They would like to thank all her family and friends for their support and love for her throughout her life.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2009, at the Christiansburg Presbyterian Church with a funeral service to follow at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at Sunset Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, you may make contributions to Christiansburg Presbyterian Church or to the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library Fund. The Foster family is being served by Horne Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.hornefuneralservice.com.