YORKTOWN — Joy Gunson Phillips, 87, passed away unexpectedly Monday, Oct. 19, 2020.
Joy was born July 24, 1933, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and raised in Denver, Colorado, by her parents, Cecil P. and I. Virginia Gunson.
She earned a bachelor’s degree at San Diego State University and teaching certificate at Colorado State University. After teaching briefly in Denver, Colorado, Joy returned to San Diego, California. It was there that she met her husband, Bruce Phillips. They were married June 29, 1957, at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in La Jolla, California. Bruce and Joy moved from San Diego, California, to Alexandria in 1960.
Upon retiring, Joy and Bruce relocated to Yorktown, where they quickly became involved in their new community. Joy and Bruce were both members of Grace Episcopal Church in Yorktown and enjoyed singing in the choir. Joy was very active in civic and cultural organizations, including the Celebrate Yorktown Committee, Yorktown Preservation Society and the Watermen’s Museum. Joy became a member of the Comte de Grasse Chapter, NSDAR in 2006 and was also a member of the Mayflower Society. For many years, she planned the Yorktown Day Association Dinner, the Lighted Boat Parade Sponsors Party and the Virginia Symphony Concert in Yorktown.
A beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Joy is survived by her husband, Bruce; daughters, Leslie Viccellio (Hank) and Susie Dewing (Clark); son, Alan Phillips (Warren Besore); grandchildren, Allison Murray (Jesse), Jesse Castello (Justin) and Nick Giampa (Amber); great-grandchildren, Indiana Joy Murray, Isaac William Murray, Jesse Carolanne Murray and Selma Camille Castello.
Private services will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joy’s memory to the Yorktown Preservation Society, P.O. Box 405, Yorktown VA 23690; The Watermen’s Museum, P.O. Box 519, Yorktown, VA 23690; or a charity of your choice.
