Mattie Geraldine Joslin's Obituary
Mattie Geraldine Gibbs Joslin, age 91, of Garland, Texas, passed away on January 20, 2024.
Geraldine was born on July 19, 1932 to Frankie and S.D. Gibbs in Pine Forest, Texas. Geraldine and her brother Howell grew up in Detroit, Texas with many aunts, uncles and cousins nearby.
On January 16, 1953, Geraldine married William Thornton Joslin, Jr; Bill to his friends and family, in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Geraldine attended East Texas State University, earning both her Bachelors degree and a Master's Degree of Education.
For 32 years, Geraldine followed in her parents' footsteps by teaching elementary students first in Arkansas, then Irving and Garland, Texas. It is very common to meet former students of "Mrs. Joslin" in her hometown of Garland. Students never fail to comment how she was their favorite teacher and how much she was loved by her students. Joslin Street in Irving is named after her by a student's dad, a developer.
Geraldine and Bill had two children, Glenda and Robert. They spent their summers visiting their relatives in Texas and exploring places like Carlsbad Caverns, Washington DC, Tennessee, California and Oklahoma.
Geraldine liked to stay busy and had many hobbies. She loved puzzles, playing 42 with Howell and his wife Barbara, and Bill. She gardened and loved to be outside. She was passionate about her family, both past and present. She spent many years after her retirement researching the genealogy of the Bradford family with her cousins Lavyn and Venito Jo.
Geraldine was the most loving grandmother, always reminding the grandchildren that she loved them and also how proud she was of each of them. The grandchildren are blessed by the fun memories of the many trips that Grandmother and Granddad planned for them. Some of the favorites were Branson, Corpus Christi, Florida; and the infamous cross-country driving adventure to California with Amanda age 6 and Rob age 4 - without the parents!!!
Geraldine loved to take pictures and enjoyed displaying and scrapbooking them to save for herself and to give away. She was also a diehard Rangers and Mavericks fan and loved watching them on TV with her family.
She loved her church and church family, attending Austin Street Church of Christ, and then Buckingham Road Church of Christ. Geraldine had a quick laugh and smile for everyone; always making a loving connection to all that she met.
Geraldine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill Joslin, and her brother Howell Gibbs. She is survived by her daughter Glenda Joslin Stacy and her husband Gary Stacy of Garland; her son Robert Joslin and his wife Sally Youngblood Joslin of Aledo; grandchildren Amanda Stacy Radcliffe and her husband Tripp Radcliffe of Garland, Rob Joslin and his wife Chandler Pace Joslin of Aledo, Reid Joslin of Vancouver, Canada, and Shane Stacy of Garland. Geraldine has six great grandchildren: Rylan Radcliffe, Hayley Radcliffe, Jack Radcliffe of Garland; and River Joslin, Shiloh Joslin, Taos Joslin of Aledo and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family would like to express thanks to Grandbrook Memory Care. The love and care that you provided Geraldine was a blessing to us all.
A visitation will be held at Restland on January 29 5:00-7:00 PM.
The memorial service wil be held at Buckingham Road Church of Christ on Tuesday January 30 at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Buckingham Road Church of Christ Mission Fund or 5 Loaves Food Pantry in Sachse, TX; or your favorite charity.
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