Joyce Bristor, nee Stackhouse, 92, of Pompano Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully December 4, 2021. She was born on June 16, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Charles and Edna Stackhouse. Joyce married Benjamin L. Bristor, a marine who served during World War II in the South Pacific including the assault and capture of Iwo Jima where he witnessed the historical raising of the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi. Joyce met Ben when picking him up at the train station after his girlfriend (Joyce's best friend, Jackie) decided to break up with Ben and did not want to meet him at the train station. The rest is history as Ben and Joyce married on June 1, 1946; Jackie was the bride's attendant. Ben passed away peacefully on April 17, 2012.

When Joyce was young, she wanted to be an opera singer. Under the stage name "Joyce James," she originally sang in nightclubs, but after becoming a born-again Christian she sang a variety of songs as a soloist in church services.

The family took a vacation to Florida in the 1960s. Neither restaurant roaches at a greasy spoon Florida truck stop nor sleeping overnight in the non-airconditioned station wagon in the Sunshine State heat and humidity could deter the family's love for Florida. Across 20 years Ben and Joyce lived in Ohio, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi before finally retiring to Clearwater, Florida in 1986. Several years later they moved to Boca Raton, then in 1994 settled in a condo next to their daughter in Pompano Beach.

Joyce loved to travel with her husband and in later years with her daughter, enjoying trips to New Zealand, England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, around the United States including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as cruising around the Caribbean and Panama Canal. She also enjoyed meeting celebrities and even attended an Academy Awards party for the movie Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

Joyce is predeceased by her father, Charles D. Stackhouse; her mother, Edna Shaffer Stackhouse; her sister Dorthea "Dot" Stackhouse Flynn; her stepfather, Warren T. Snyder; and her loving husband of 65 years, Benjamin L. Bristor. She is survived by her son William Reid Bristor of Melbourne, Florida, and his wife Carol; daughter Valerie Jayne Bristor of Pompano Beach; son John Andrew Bristor of South Florida; 5 grandchildren – Jerry (and wife Christy), Joe (and wife Salina), Jennifer (and husband Jeff), Jessica, & Bobbie Anna; four great-grandchildren – Jeremiah, Micah, Jordan, and Elijah; two step-grandchildren – Nick & Gillian; and nephews.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at Palm Beach National Chapel in Lake Worth, Florida, Tuesday, December 21, 2021. Joyce will be buried next to her husband Ben in the South Florida National (Veterans) Cemetery, and they are now reunited together with our Lord for eternity.

Memorial contributions may be made in Joyce's memory to: Shriners Hospitals for Children at https://lovetotherescue.org/memorial-gifts/ or The Humane Society of the United States at https://secured.humanesociety.org/page/83122/donate/1

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Sun-Sentinel on Dec. 20, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Joyce Bristor

6 Entries

John A Bristor

December 22, 2021

I am Valerie's brother. We appreciate your thoughts and condolences. Once she gets a little rest, she will be communicating. Thank all of you so much.

Barbara Ridener

December 20, 2021

I want to extend my deepest sympathy to Joyce's family. Having traveled with Val and Joyce on a number of occasions, I remember how much she loved to travel and how Val included her in many of our outings. My most profound memory was when Joyce was not with us but we were in India and I received a call from Joyce because she could not reach Val.

She will surely be missed.

All my best,

Barbara

Linda Proctor-Bailey

December 18, 2021

With deepest sympathy. You lived a beautiful life. You will be missed

Rena

December 17, 2021

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

December 17, 2021

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends. Please take comfort in the words found at 2nd Thessalonians 2: 16, 17.

Philomena Marinaccio

December 17, 2021

Val,
I just wanted to let you know that I have been thinking of you and praying for you and your family. I believe that losing a mother is probably the most stressful loss. However, you did everything you could to care for your mother and father so there could be no regrets. You always handle every crisis with calmness and dignity. Which is what you were such a great leader and administrator. I think that it was wonderful that you were so close and caring for your mother (especially since your father passed) and were able to spend quality time and care for your mother during your break year and then when teaching online during Covid. I just wanted you to know that you have provided your faculty at FAU with both a professional and personal role model to live up to.

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