Joyce Franklin

Joyce Franklin, age 80, of Yankton, South Dakota, died Saturday, December 29, 2018, at Avera Majestic Bluffs Hospice House in Yankton. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM on Thursday, January 3, 2019, at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with Reverend Ron Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Martinus Lutheran Cemetery in rural Utica, South Dakota. Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Joyce Franklin was born April 2, 1938, in Homestead, Pennsylvania, to Howard and Alma (Cashdollar) Ebner. She grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from Munhall High School in Munhall, Pennsylvania. Joyce worked for Union Switch and Signal for a while and then at US Steel in the insurance office. She married Richard Franklin on November 1, 1958 and together, with the help of their family and friends, built their house near Murrysville, Pennsylvania. Joyce became a devoted homemaker and housewife, focusing on raising their two children: Cynthia and James. Richard’s job moved the family to Baldwinsville, New York and later to Adrian, Michigan for a short time. Then in 1994, they moved to their farm near Utica, South Dakota. They loved being on the farm, but in 2011 decided to move into Yankton. Joyce was a member of First United Methodist Church in Yankton, former president of G.F.W.C. of Yankton and was one of the founding members and former chairwoman of the Yankton Planning and Zoning Commission. She enjoyed her time on the Planning and Zoning Commission and cared deeply for her community. Joyce was a hardworking, goal orientated, dependable and loyal woman who was always concerned about the care of others. She was a devoted wife and mother and loved spending time with her husband, boating, racing cars, and golfing. She enjoyed gardening, picking potatoes, baking and crocheting but especially enjoyed spending time with her family. Survivors include her husband, Richard Franklin of Yankton; two children: Cindy (Gene) Guenther of Yankton and Jim (Connie) Franklin of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; two grandsons: R.J. and Tyler Franklin; and one sister, Judy Wehrer of Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania. She was preceded in death by her parents. To send an online message to the family, please visit www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com.