Joy L. Wimberly was born in Kansas City, Kansas October 14, 1939. She spent much of her youth growing up on her grandparent’s farm in rural Wyandotte County. She graduated in 1957 from Shawnee Mission High School in Overlake Park, Kansas. Joy married Ronald J. Wimberly on November 14, 1959 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Wichita, Kansas.
They began their family soon after and a job opportunity at Boeing brought the family to the Pacific Northwest in the summer of 1966 where they raised their four children. As the children grew, Joy transitioned from homemaker to the workforce in Customer Service and Sales for several local telecommunications companies.
Joy boasted that her greatest accomplishment was raising her four children to be productive adults, and she enjoyed watching them begin families of their own. Her greatest pleasure was sharing in the lives of her grandchildren while participating in their busy and active schedules.
Joy’s hobbies included gardening, floral arranging, arts & crafts, holiday decorating, and researching the family’s genealogy. Her most precious companion was her loyal, beloved dog Beau, whom she adored beyond words.
Joy is survived by her 3 daughters, Dawn Winslow (Bret), Erin Peerboom (Paul), Lesli VanAchte (Mark), her daughter in law, Renee Wimberly (Branson), 11 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Eva and Noah Minnix, her husband, Ronald Wimberly, and her son Branson Wimberly.
Joy always greeted everyone with a warm smile and always left family members with her famous phrase, “Love you BIG!”