Joyce Richardson's Obituary
Joyce Ann Richardson passed away January 10, 2026, at the age of 91 of vascular dementia. She was a beloved mother of 2, grandmother of 6 and great grandmother of 9. Joyce was born on December 26, 1934, to Clyde and Marian Johnson of Grand Ledge, Michigan. Joyce was the older of their two daughters.
After graduating from Grand Ledge High School, where she played saxophone in the marching band, Joyce went on to American Airlines professional training (though her wearing glasses prevented her from becoming a flight attendant). She ended up working for the government and was sent to work at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. It was there that she met her future husband, John Richardson, an aircraft, and radar technician for the Air Force during the Korean War. Once his enlistment ended, he and Joyce were married on June 29,1957 and settled in Grand Ledge, Michigan while John attended Michigan State University in Lansing.
In December of 1958 their son, James Edward, was born in Lansing, Michigan. Their daughter, Karen Ann, was also born in Lansing in September of 1960. Following John’s graduation, the family relocated many times for John’s work with IBM, including to Fairport, New York. They later relocated to Plano, Texas.
Throughout this time, the family enjoyed travelling around the United States by car, often with Joyce’s parents. They visited Cape Cod and toured around Florida, traveled to Washington DC with their good friends the Collins, and visited other places like Branson, Missouri.
After her children were out of high school, Joyce went back to work with Sun Oil, Safeco Insurance and Mulberry Square Productions, a local production company that was involved with making the series of “Benji” movies in the 1970’s onwards.
She and John were long time members of the First United Methodist Church of Richardson and both sang in the choir for many years. At one point they traveled with the choir to Washington DC and sang in the National Cathedral.
Throughout her life, Joyce was a meticulous housekeeper and a fabulous cook. She loved decorating and sewing and being involved with her grandchildren. She and John continued to travel, often with her sister Jean Payne and her husband, Bob.
As her memory began to fail, she and John moved to an assisted living facility. Eventually, they moved to Brookdale Creekside Memory Care in Plano, Texas for full time care. The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Brookdale Creekside for the kind care they provided both Joyce and John in their final years. They have been a true blessing.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband John, her parents Clyde and Marian Johnson, and her son-in-law Greg Melaun.
Joyce and John were married 67 years when John passed away in October of 2024. Joyce is survived by her sister, Jean Payne and husband Bob, of Lansing Michigan, her son James Richardson and his wife Ann, of Cedar Park, Texas, her daughter Karen Melaun, of Plano, Texas, grandchildren Taylor Melaun of Pilot Point, Texas, Jessica Bartlett of Little Elm, Texas, Elise Brooks and her husband James, of Jarrell, Texas, Andrew Richardson and his wife Dawn, of Boerne, Texas, Tasha Richardson and Allison Richardson, of Cedar Park, Texas and great grandchildren Grayson Bartlett, Brooklynn Melaun, Olivia Richardson, and Gregory Sandoval, Alexia, Hailey and Natasha Brooks, and Kendall and Quinn Richardson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Richardson, Texas Music Ministry at https://www.fumcr.com/giving_honorary.
There will be a visitation for family and friends on Monday, January 19th, 2026, at 1:00pm. Joyce will be interred with John at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Veterans Cemetery.
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