Joyce Dellinger

SPRUCE PINE - Joyce Marlene Bice Dellinger, age 89, of Spruce Pine, formerly of Cherryville, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at The Greens at Spruce Pine.
She was born Feb. 26, 1934, in Gaston County to the late Nobie Lee Worthy Bice.
Born two months premature, her mother would heat bricks on the woodstove and wrap them in the towels to make a homemade incubator. From that moment, she became a thriver, and overcame many adversities throughout her life.
She was in the Cherryville High School graduating class of 1954 and the Gaston Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Class of 1957. Joyce was encouraged to work in the mill, but she had other plans. She valued education and worked for nearly 50 years as a Registered Nurse.
Joyce was an excellent nurse who loved her patients. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Spruce Pine, and a former member of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Cherryville.
She loved reading poetry, biographies, and spending time with pets, specifically cats and dogs. Joyce also enjoyed shopping, as well as veggie gardening, canning, and cooking. Perry Como was her favorite singer. She leaves a legacy of kindness to people and animals. She never met a cat she didn't love. She loved us well and we will miss her terribly.
In addition to her mother, Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Hoyle Belton Dellinger and sisters, Janie Lou Morgan and Annie May Messer. Survivors include her daughter, Kate Callahan-King (Duane)and Barbara Dellinger Gosine (Mark); grandchildren, Joshua Dellinger, Amanda Gosine and Rebecca King; and great grandchildren Aaliylah Coulson and Zion Coulson.
Graveside services were held on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Jerry Lail officiating. The family received friends from at Carpenter-Porter Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your local animal shelter. Condolences may be made to www.carpenterporter.com