William A. Joyce

EAST FALMOUTH — William A. Joyce, 87, of East Falmouth, died at home, on Nov. 11, 2007.

He was the husband of the late Bernadette E. (Dussault) Joyce.

Bill, as he was affectionately known by family and friends, was born and raised in Northampton. As he grew up in the post World War I era, he had a fascination with airplanes and flying, which developed into a passion as he entered adulthood.

After graduating from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, he joined the Army Air Forces and piloted planes during World War II. After the war, he settled into civilian life but quickly realized he wanted to make the military a career, and he returned to active duty in the Air Force.

His Air Force career included teaching ROTC at both UMASS-Amherst and Amherst College, flying missions during the Korean War, working under the command of Chuck Yeager, and flying 18-hour radar missions on the East Coast before PAVE PAWS radar was developed. On one of his radar missions he successfully returned home after losing three out of four of his engines.

After his Air Force career brought him around the world, he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1969 and settled in East Falmouth. During retirement, he never lost his love of flying, remained an avid New York Yankees fan, and worked in banking.

He is survived by his children, Alan W. Joyce of Vienna, Va., Anne Henderson of Essex Junction, Vt., and Elaine Cavallo of Sturbridge; a brother, Richard Joyce of Washington, D.C.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 8 to 9:30 a.m., on Friday, Nov. 16, 2007, in the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 475 Main St., Falmouth. A funeral Mass will follow at 10 a.m., at St. Anthony's Church, 167 E. Falmouth Highway (Route 28), East Falmouth. Burial will be at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.

For online guest book and directions, please visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com.