Joyce P. Rath

1939 - 2025

Joyce P. Rath, 85, of Hagerstown, MD, passed away on March 25, 2025, at Seaton of Hagerstown after a courageous 25-year battle with Parkinson's disease. Born on April 10, 1939, Joyce-affectionately known as Joy-was the daughter of Edward Theodore Plitt Sr. and Ruth Wenner Plitt. Her childhood was shaped by her father's missionary work and military service, making her a world traveler from an early age. As a young girl, she lived in China for two years during World War II and in Germany for three years during the Korean War. Joy cherished her adventurous upbringing, moving across the United States and living on or near military bases, with a special fondness for her five years in Lockhart, TX. Joy graduated in the third graduating class from Loudon County High School and went on to earn an English degree from Shepherd College in 1965. After teaching at Loudon Valley High from 1965 to 1967, she earned a Master's degree in Speech and Hearing from the University of Maryland. In 1972, Joy began a distinguished 33-year career with the Washington County, MD, school system as a speech therapist and administrator. Her dedication to education and service earned her the Golden Apple Award in 2003, an honor nominated by her peers for her exceptional work as a pupil personnel worker. She retired in 2005, leaving a lasting legacy in the community. Joy devoted her life to helping others, finding joy in cooking for crowds and serving her community. A faithful member of St. John's Episcopal Church, she was deeply involved with Children in Need. Joy loved to laugh and will be missed by many. Joy was predeceased by her first husband, Vernon Lee Washington; her second husband, George Norris Rath; her daughter, Robin Wenner Rath; and her brother, Edward Theodore Plitt Jr. She is survived by her sons, Lee Washington Rath and David Norris Rath; grandchildren Blake, Dolly, William, Zach, and Sean Rath; great-grandson Hayden Rath; daughters-in-law Mary-Kay Rath and Kathleen Christian; grandson Zach Rath's partner Liz Knowles, mother of Hayden Rath; sister Dottie Gladstone; and sister-in-law Anna Plitt. The family will hold a memorial service at St. John's Episcopal Church in Hagerstown on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 11 a.m., with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. John's Episcopal Church in Hagerstown, MD, Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Woodbine, MD, or to Saint James School in Hagerstown, MD. Arrangements were made with J.L. Davis Funeral Home, Smithsburg, MD, online condolences can be offered at www.jldavisfh.com. Joyce P. Rath