Joy H. Schwartz

Joy H. Schwartz, 90, of Leetown, WV passed away Friday, March 3, 2023 at Heritage Hall Leesburg in Leesburg, VA.

Joy was born in Cedardale, Oklahoma on Feb. 11, 1933 to Floyd W. Hopper and Grace E. (Soupene) Hopper. After graduating in the Class of 1951 from Hooker High School, Hooker, OK, she went to Oklahoma City University where she completed her bachelor’s degree in biology and then attended graduate school at Texas Tech University. Subsequently she moved to WV to work as a research biochemist at the Martinsburg Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center. She met and married VA optometrist Dr Albert J. Schwartz, the love of her life, and they were married in 1959.

Joy volunteered for many years at the Jefferson County Chapter of the American Red Cross and then served as the Director for six years. She also continued her graduate studies through WVU and was a member of the American Association of University Women.

In addition to her parents, Joy was preceded in death by her husband, who passed June 13, 2022, and sister Beverly Jacks. She is survived by her sons, Edward Kevin Schwartz (wife Lorri) of Shepherdstown and Andrew Alan Schwartz (wife Kathy) of Martinsburg; daughters, Candace Ann Sammons (husband Jamie) of Charles Town, and Beverly Aileen Purnell (husband Jeff), of Freeland, MD; six grandchildren Cecilia Schwartz, Laurel Schwartz, Erin Purnell, Emily Sammons, Nathan Purnell, and Jed Sammons; brothers, Floyd Gail Hopper (wife Wanda) of Oklahoma and Leo G. Hopper (wife Janice) of New Mexico; and many nieces and nephews.

Joy was a long-time member of Trinity Gospel Assembly of God, Charles Town, WV, where she served many years as a Sunday School teacher, church secretary, and pianist. She was also a recent member of the CrossPoint Church of God, Kearneysville, WV. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, playing the piano and singing, attending church services, crafting (stamping, scrapbooking, and arranging flowers), reading, and hosting several picnics annually on “the hill” where she and her family and close friends lived. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Her memory will be forever treasured.

Services will be held at the Melvin T Strider Colonial Funeral Home in Ranson, WV.

The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Friday, March 10 with Pastor Joe Burwell officiating. Interment will be in Pleasant View Memory Gardens, Kearneysville, WV.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross (1948 Wiltshire Road, Suite 2, Kearneysville, WV 25430) or Birthright of Jefferson County (103 South Mildred St., Ranson, WV 25438).

Please sign her online guestbook at www.mtstrider.com.