Death of Joyce Wiley, Former Missionary to Paraguay
Global Ministries is saddened to learn of the passing of Reverend Joyce Lee Brown Wiley on
November 28, 2012.
Global Ministries is saddened to learn of the passing of Reverend Joyce Lee Brown Wiley on November 28, 2012, four days after her 78th birthday. Reverend Wiley was born in Tyler, Texas, the daughter of Dr. Glynne and Evelyn Via Brown.
Joyce, along with her twin sister, Loyce, grew up in Tyler and, following High School at John Tyler, went to Tyler Junior College where they were members of the Apache Belle Dance Team. Later they attended the University of Texas at Austin where Joyce majored in Home Economics.
Joyce Wiley met her husband, George E. Wiley, Jr. at University Christian Church and they were married the day after her graduation on June 5, 1955. Their first home was in Elsa-Edcouch, Texas, where they worked as teachers in the local school. It was there they were blessed with the birth of their first son, Richard Paul. Following a life calling, they were accepted as missionaries for the Disciples of Christ, Division of Overseas Ministries. The Wileys attended Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky, where their daughter, Linda Ann, was born. Following ordination, Reverends George and Joyce Wiley went to Costa Rica for an immersion Spanish course prior to going to Asuncion, Paraguay, in August 1959. Their call to ministry in Paraguay was at the Colegio Internacional and local Disciples of Christ Churches. Children Robert, Mark, and Karen Lee were born in Asuncion. Joyce developed a home economics program for the school and taught cooking classes to 6th grade girls. On furlough in 1981, Joyce returned to the University of Texas and earned her Masters Degree in early childhood education. Upon the family’s return to Paraguay she started church-based preschool programs. The ministry of George and Joyce spanned over 50 years at the school and Paraguayan churches, touching the lives of many students and families.
Upon the passing of her husband in 2009, Joyce returned to live with her twin sister, Loyce, and husband, William Collenback in San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio found Joyce active in church activities at Western Hills Christian Church and with programs of the American Association of University Women. Along with family members she attended many a sporting event at UTSA and O’Connor High School campuses and stadiums.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Glynne Brown; her husband, George E. Wiley Jr.; and sister, Evelyn Anne, and husband, Weldon Squyres. Surviving are: her son, Richard Paul Wiley and wife, Thea; grandchildren, Marcel and wife, Heather; granddaughter Emily Wiley of Lucas, Texas; daughter, Linda and husband, Elbridge Russell; grandchildren, Elsie, James, and Katie Russell of Fryeburg, Maine; son, Robert Mark Wiley and wife, Anania, grandchildren, Ernesto and Anahi Wiley of Yataity, Paraguay; daughter, Karen Lee Wiley, and granddaughter, Nicole Wiley of San Antonio, Texas; many US nephews and nieces and family friends both in Paraguay and the United States.
A memorial services was held at Western Hills Christian Church, 8535 Huebner Road on Monday, December 3, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Memorial gifts may be made to: Global Ministries, P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1986. Condolences may be sent to: Loyce Collenback, 10509 Mount Marcy, San Antonio, TX 78213-1613.