Austin Joy

Anchorage resident Austin John "A.J." Joy, 89, died of natural causes Oct. 25, 2008, at Elmendorf hospital.
At his request, no services will be held. His last wishes were to take a final flight with his son in Jay's 185 over the beautiful mountains that he so loved, to be his final resting place.
A.J. was born April 23, 1919, in New Jersey to Austin and Lillian (Strang) Joy.
He came to Alaska with his brother, Vince Joy, during the summer of 1936 to establish the beginnings of Central Alaska Missions in Copper Center and later in Glennallen.
A.J.'s love for Alaska included flying with his brother, Vince, in the late 1930s. He later joined the Army Air Corps and became a fighter pilot instructor during World War II. A.J. met Betty White in 1946 while in the Army Air Corps. They were married and had three children.
Through the 1950s, A.J. flew commercially and for his beloved Air Guard. In 1962, he started working for Anchorage Natural Gas. He retired from there in 1984.
A.J. spent his retired years with good friends at Jackie's restaurant and at the bowling alley, bowling on many leagues.
He spent his last seven years living with his son and daughter-in-law, Jay and Reggie Joy, at their home on Flat Top, where they could take care of him.
"We are sorry to see him go, and he will be missed, but never forgotten," his family said.
He is survived by his sister, Violet Woodside of Florida; brother, Sherwood "Woody" Joy; daughters and son-in-law, Beth and Jack White of Fort Collins, Colo., and Lynn Cannon of Colorado; son and daughter-in-law, Jay and Reggie Joy of Anchorage; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will miss him greatly.
A.J. was preceded in death by his brother, Vince Joy, and wife, Betty.
An online guestbook and obituary can be viewed at www.alaskacremation.com.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Cremation Society of Alaska.