Joyce Ellen Welter, age 87, of South Bend, IN passed away February 15, 2023. Joyce was born August 21, 1935 the beloved daughter of Leslie (Jody) Avery and Blanche (Roll) Avery. On July 12, 1959 she and Stanley Edward Welter of Mishawaka were married in the Geetingsville Presbyterian Church in Frankfort, IN. Preceding her in death was her oldest son, Jon Leslie Welter in 1999. Survivors include her husband of 65 years, daughter Julie Ann Waggener of Collierville, TN, Son Steven E, Welter of Ft. Myers, FL and daughter in law Lisa Welter of South Bend, IN. Also surviving are grandson Christopher Waggener and granddaughter Courtney (Josh) Bohannon of TX, great granddaughter Crimsyn Bohannon, brother Joe Halfred (Bev) Avery of Geetingsville, IN, three nieces Laura (Mark) Humrickhouse of Geetingsville, Stephanie (Mike) Gochenour of Rossville, IN, and Kristin (John) David of Atlanta, GA, three great nieces, Megan Humrickhouse, Abigail David and Bridget Gochenour, three great nephews Michael and Matthew David and Ben Gochenour.

Joyce was a 1953 graduate of Rossville HS, in Rossville, IN and received a BS in 1957 from the former Indiana State Teachers College in Terre Haute, IN as well as a MS from IUSB South Bend, IN. She was a teacher for 28 years with the Mishawaka School System teaching grades 1, Nursery School and Kindergarten. She implemented the systems only Transition class at La Salle elementary school in Mishawaka, IN. Joyce was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of South Bend, IN. She served as a Deacon, an officer and member of the Presbyterian Women, a church school teacher and Shepherd. Joyce was also an active member of PEO chapter BX&C2. She also loved to read, knit, crochet, cross stitch, crossword puzzles and flower gardening.

Services entrusted to Chapel Hill Funeral Home 10776 McKinley Hwy Osceola, IN and will be held on Friday February 24, 2023 at 12:00 pm Visitation will be held prior to from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. Entombment at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens will follow services. Memorials (in lieu of flowers) may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Women or a charity of your choice in her name.

Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain; I am the gentle Autumns rain. When you awaken in the mornings hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft star that shines at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die.