A direct descendent of George Read, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, Joyce Read

Tompkins was born in Blytheville Arkansas to Frances Eugene Tompkins and Jessica Carlton.  Gene  and Jessie raised their seven children, of which Joyce, third to be born, on a dairy farm in Osceola, Arkansas, near the Mississippi River.  Joyce's father believed that girls should have a higher education to prepare them for the world, so Joyce left the farm to attend college in Memphis, Tennessee and then worked as an accountant for Sears  Roebuck.  It was during this time when Bill's mother suggested  that she thought he ought to meet, "that pretty little Tompkins girl" who was a childhood friend of Mary  Stewart, Bill's younger sister. Joyce said that she remembered once seeing Bill on his way out of the house as she and her best friend, Mary Stewart, were playing jacks on the living room floor.

Bill and Joyce were married on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day, 1939 in Memphis, Tennessee; and, according to "Pop", it was just  a coincidence that he wore a green suit!     Bill worked in sales management for American Standard, and then for the U. S. Rubber Company which took the family from Memphis to Cleveland, Ohio, then to Chicago, Illinois, and in the late 50's, to Palo Alto, California.

Bill embarked on a new career as a real estate broker in Menlo Park, California, where he and Joyce lived for over 40 years. Joyce hosted many dinners and parties for Bill's clients and their families everywhere they had lived. She continued in the Tompkins' tradition of women who were known for their culinary skills. They frequently enjoyed travelling across the country in their several RVs for many years. She also found ways to express her many other abilities through her hobbies: sewing, embroidery, gardening, and flower arranging.  At the age of 84, she sewed three bridesmaid dresses for her grand daughter's wedding! Joyce was also an award winning athlete, who loved playing golf with her friends. Even into her 90's, she was tough to beat at playing dominoes!

She will always be remembered as a generous, loving, and self-less "Southern belle". "Miss Joyce", as Bill often called her, helped to raise her two grand children, Melissa and Christopher Martinez. She was active in her church, was a member of the Stanford University Mother's Club, and was a hostess at events to benefit young pregnant women  in the Florence Crittenton Home in San Francisco. She was also a member of the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) which worked with nearby Native American groups, and with Veterans at the Palo Alto VA Hospital.

In 2001, Bill and Joyce moved to Eskaton Village, a continuing care community in Carmichael, California, near Sacramento. There they continued to be socially active, and both became known for their domino playing. In March 2007, Bill died in his 95 ^th year, just a week after celebrating their 68 ^th wedding anniversary.

Joyce spent most of the remainder of her life in Eskaton's Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing units. In September, 2016, she moved to Nazareth Classic Care, an Alzheimer's facility back in Menlo Park. The family is thankful to the many outstanding and devoted medical staff and other caregivers who provided her with such comfort and reassurance throughout her final years.

Our family is very grateful for and moved by the many outpourings of sympathy, support, and prayers at the time of our dear Joyce's death. She is survived by: her daughter, Sherrill Martinez Palmer, and her husband, John Avery, in San Jose, California; by her son, William I. Butler, Jr.  and his wife, Dee, in Sandia Park, New Mexico; by her grand daughter, Melissa O'Callaghan, and husband, Paul, and her great grand children, Heath and Scott, in Perth, Western Australia; and, by her  grandson, Christopher Martinez and his wife, Teresa, in Chicago, Illinois; by her sister, Jean Sherrill Tinsley in Indianapolis, Indiana, and her husband, Walt; by her sister-in-law, Charlene Tompkins, in Mobile, Alabama; and, by her many nieces and nephews.

A Service to honor and celebrate Joyce's life has been scheduled at the St. Francis Episcopal Church,1205 Pine Avenue; San Jose, Ca 95125, on Saturday, January 21, 2017, at  11 AM.  In lieu of flowers, if there is a desire to do so, a donation may be made in her memory to: Real Options, Pregnancy Medical Clinics; 1671 The Alameda, Suite 101; San Jose, Ca 95126.