Joyce “Spunk” Anderson died Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at Mars Hill Retirement Community. She was the daughter of the late Lena Bryant Ward and Bruce Ward of Cove City, North Carolina. Mrs. Anderson is survived by one son, William Kenneth Anderson of Asheville, NC. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Willian Preston “Pet” Anderson, a son Michael Bruce Anderson and a younger brother Lane Ward.
The Andersons met and married while students at Mars Hill Junior College. They then moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina where Mrs. Anderson received her Liberal Arts and Elementary Education degree and Dr. Anderson received his doctorate.
In 1954 they moved to New York City where Dr. Anderson started his tenure with Teachers College, Columbia University.
In 1956, The Andersons moved to Tenafly, New Jersey and lived for forty-three years, except for six years (1961-1967) when they were in Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, Dr. Anderson was head of a team assisting Kabul University and the Royal Government of Afghanistan. Dr. Anderson was presented with a medal for “distinguished service to education” by the King of Afghanistan.
The Andersons returned to Mars Hill, North Carolina, in March of 1999, where Dr. Anderson had grown up. Mrs. Anderson was a talented flower gardener, and her home displayed her many decorative talents. These talents she graciously shared with family and friends and neighbors. She was active in Mars Hill Senior Citizens and Mars Hill Baptist Church.
A graveside service will be held at Mars Hill Baptist Church Cemetery on Cemetery Drive at 2:00 PM Sunday, July 24, 2016. The service will be conducted by Reverend Dr. Tommy Justus.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: MMY Scholarship Fund, Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC 28754
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org
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