Joyce Harland Venable, 78, of Nederland and North Zulch, Texas, passed away on Sunday, May 23, 2010 at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He was born April, 19, 1932 in the Brushy Community near Madisonville, Texas to Violet Margaret Andrews and Fred Theodore Venable. A resident of Nederland since 1954, Joyce retired from Texaco after thirty-two years of employment as an electrician, and then worked for Austin industries for five years. Joyce was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Nederland, Texas. He graduated from Madisonville High School in 1953, attended Blinn Junior College, and earned and associate degree from Lamar University.
Joyce’s love and memories will remain in the hearts of his wife, Bobbie Jean Waller Venable, daughter, Donna and husband David Grimmer, daughter, Lorrie and husband Robert Simoneaux, one grandchild, David Harland Grimmer, his brother, Melvin D. Venable and wife Ann, sister, Margaret Ward, sister-in-law, Patricia Hayes and husband Will, sister-in-law Peggy Clute and husband Donald and a host of other relatives and friends. Joyce and Bobbie were married July 11, 1954 and remained devoted to each other for fifty-five years. He was a wonderful father and grandfather
Joyce was a veteran of the Korean War and Purple Heart recepiant. He retired form the United States Marine corps in June 1980 after twenty-seven and a half years of service to his country. After his military retirement, he stayed active in the Toys for Tots, Marine Corps Associatation and Gulf Coast Leathernecks. He was proud to be a Marine.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Viola and Fred Venable, his brothers Fred Jr. and Walter Ray, and father and mother-in-law, Robert and Burney Mae Waller. Friends and family are invited to attend a family visitation from 1 to 3 pm and memorial service celebrating Joyce’s life at 3pm Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at Calvary Baptist Church 2515 Canal Ave. Nederland, Texas with Brother Donald Bean officiating. Visitation will be held form 5 to 8 pm Thursday, May 27, 2010 at Madisonville Funeral Home 1511 East Main Street, Madisonville, Texas. Funeral service will be at 10 am Friday, May 28, 2101 at Madisonville Funeral Home. Interment with military honors will follow at Madisonville City Cemetery.
