Joyce Carol Pearthree

Joyce Carol Barnes was born to Vivia and Hobert Barnes on May 24, 1936. Joyce was the last of six children and grew up in a small town in Upstate New York, named Sidney, New York which she fondly referred to as the "Foothills of the Catskills." Joyce's oldest sister Myrtle had her own children by the time Joyce was born, and Joyce grew up in the company of her nieces who lived in Sidney as well. Joyce completed her education in Sidney, and after high school, she moved to Syracuse, New York to attend Crouse Irving Nursing School. She lived with other nursing students near a teaching hospital and became a registered nurse. Now a registered nurse, Joyce joined her sister Jean, in Washington DC, where she enrolled in a BSN program at Catholic University and worked at Washington Hospital Center. It was the late 1950's and Joyce and Jean dated and met their respective husbands who were also working in Washington DC. They enjoyed picnics in Rock Creek Park and attending concerts in the city. Joyce met Eugene Richard Vikingson who was working to enter the United States Foreign Service. Eugene was from Minneapolis, Minnesota and attended church at Grace Lutheran on 16th Street, Washington DC. Joyce and Eugene were married in August, 1960 and had their first child, Katrina Joyce, the following spring while living in Maryland. Eugene was accepted into the Foreign Service and the young family moved to Paris, France, where they welcomed their second child, Heidi Jeanne Vikingson. The Vikingson family enjoyed afternoons in the park near the Eiffel Tower and travels through France. Joyce and Eugene returned to the United States and lived in Alexandria, Virginia while awaiting their next assignment. They travelled to spend time with family in both Minnesota and in New York. On January 2, 1965, while preparing to leave for Geneva, Switzerland, the young family was involved in a car accident involving a drunk driver. On January 5, 1965, Eugene Vikingson died from his injuries. Joyce sustained a neck and back injury which affected her for many years after. Joyce and the girls remained in their Alexandria house for almost seven years, attending Grace Lutheran Church and being close to her sister Jean and her family. Joyce returned to working as a registered nurse, working at Circle Terrace Hospice in Alexandria. Joyce and the girls started to travel and took trips to Bethany Beach, driving in a Volkswagen Beetle she learned to drive after Eugene died. In 1971, Joyce met Edwin Franklin Pearthree, a widower with two teens, Erik and Louann and two adult children, Walt and Beth. Joyce and Ed were married at Grace Lutheran Church on February 14, 1972. Joyce moved into Ed's home in Chantilly. The following year, Ed and Joyce moved to Omaha, Nebraska so that he could finish his bachelor's degree. Later, when they lived in Marlton, New Jersey, Joyce finished her bachelor's degree Nursing at Glassboro State. Their family expanded with the addition of grandchildren and grew to cover larger parts of the United States - including Hawaii, Maine, Philadelphia, Washington and France. They bought a sailboat and sailed into retirement, when they journeyed the Intercoastal Waterway. In their later years, Joyce and Ed remained in their home in Chantilly where Ed enjoyed his workshop, fixing the house, growing his garden, and Joyce attended community bible studies and went swimming in the local community pool. They travelled throughout the country visiting family. Their last residence was Westminister at Lake Ridge where they lived for the past fourteen years - first in their apartment and then in assisted living. Ed passed away in his sleep on April 24, 2024. Shortly after, Joyce entered hospice and passed peacefully on October 20, 2024. Joyce Carol Barnes Vikingson Pearthree, aged 88, will have a private funeral and recollections with her extended family. She will be interned at Sunset Memorial Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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Joyce Carol Pearthree

May 24, 1936 - October 20, 2024