Obituary of Joyce Ann Thomas

Joyce Ann Thomas, age 82 of Sweet Valley, went to be with her dear Lord Jesus on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Noxen on January 4, 1939 and was the daughter of the late Joseph and Angeline Jones Shalata. Joyce graduated from Lake Noxen in 1956. She was employed by Bell Telephone Company as a switch board operator and trainer. She retired from Muhlenburg Christian Academy after 41 years of service as a teacher's aide. She was a member of Calvary Bible Chapel, where she was an active member of the choir and had an angelic voice. Beginning in her childhood, she sang at numerous weddings, funerals, and church events. Joyce was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, and friend. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Paul R. Thomas who passed away on April 4, 2021; brothers, Joseph and Thomas Shalata; sister, Annette Koutnik; and granddaughter, Rachael Thomas. Joyce is survived by son, Brian and his wife Karla of Shickshinny; daughters, Judy Blaine of Wilkes-Barre, Claytonna Sorber and her husband David of Sweet Valley and Stacey Krawczeniuk and her husband Bo of Wilkes-Barre; grandchildren, Roderick, Nathaniel, Derrick, Nicholas, Clint, Alicia, Ryan, Jake, Rebecca, Luke, Leah, and Emma; great-granddaughters, Mia, Brooklyn, Jade, and Ivy; brother, William Shalata and wife Lucy of Noxen; sister, Judith Field of Jamestown, NY; sister-in-law, Janet Shalata of Tunkhannock; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 22, 2021 at 11:00 AM from Calvary Bible Chapel, 362 Hunlock Harveyville Rd., Hunlock Creek, PA 18621 with Pastor Neil Martin, officiating. Visitations will be from 6:00 to 9:00 PM on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at Calvary Bible Chapel and from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at the church prior to the service on Monday. Interment will be in the Oakdale Cemetery, Hunlock Creek. Memorial donations can be made to Muhlenburg Christian Academy, 362 Hunlock Harveyville Rd, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621. The family would like to extend a special thank you to her loving caregivers, the chaplain, and the nurses at Compassus Hospice for their compassionate care given to Joyce.