Joyce Arlene (Dunkelberger) Paul

Joyce Arlene Dunkelberger Paul of Herndon passed away peacefully on December 16, 2025 at the age of 90 in the care of Grayson View, Selinsgrove. Born on August 30th, 1935 in Dornsife, Pennsylvania to Raymond William and Mildred Mary Boyer Dunkelberger, Joyce lived a life full of love, family, and cherished memories. Through many adversities, she carried on with a great faith. Her family, especially her grandchildren and great-children were her world.

Joyce graduated from Mahanoy Joint High School in 1953 and then attended Empire Beauty School. She operated Joyce's Beauty Shop in Red Cross and later worked for Line Mountain School District in private transportation. Joyce was very active in local organizations that benefit special needs individuals, including long term service with The ARC Susquehanna Valley and Northumberland County MHMR boards.

On December 12th, 1954, William Robert Paul, while home on leave from the US Navy, asked Joyce out on their first date. They married at Himmel's Church on June 22nd, 1957 which was his parent's 22nd wedding anniversary. This year they celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.

Joyce was preceded in death by a daughter Karin Hope in 1971, a son Karl Valentin in 1987and a brother and sister-in-law Blair and Martha Dunkelberger. She is survived by her husband, and children Dawn Rose Paul Clark & John Clark of Paxinos, William Dunkelberger Paul of Sunbury, and Kristin Joyce Paul Howerter & David Howerter of Herndon. Her legacy continues through her beloved grandchildren Karl William Howerter and his wife Katie of Herndon, Karin Christine Clark Suerken and husband Justin Suerken of Paxinos and Matthew Paul Howerter of Dornsife and her great-grandchildren David Brian & Eliana Joyce Suerken; Sister-in-law Hope Paul and brother-in-law Tom and his wife Linda Paul all of Selinsgrove. Joyce was also blessed with many special cousins, nieces and nephews and very special friends Maude & Carl Snyder.

Joyce enjoyed traveling to Bill's Navy reunions throughout the east coast, attending hundreds of sports games, concerts, musicals, and Girl Scout activities during her grandchildren's younger years, trips to Rehoboth Beach, reading, music, her flower gardens and caring for her many beloved dogs over the years that she lovingly referred to as "pupples" — puppies who thought they were people.

She was grateful to Robert & Cheryl Marciniak for caring for her last dog Betsy when her health declined.

The family extends their gratitude to Grayson View & Evangelical/Wellspan Hospice for their care and to Pastor Jane Compton and the women of Himmel's Church for their faithful visits.

A viewing will be held on Friday, December 19, 2025 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Himmel's Church, 1941 Schwaben Creek Rd, Dornsife, PA 17867. A funeral service at the church will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 2:00pm. Burial will follow in Howerter Church, Jacobs Cemetery, Pitman. Arrangements have been entrusted to Foust Funeral Home, LLC. Trevorton, Ryan G. Foust, supervisor. A memory tribute may be placed at www.foustcares.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Arc Susquehanna Valley 326 Market Street Sunbury, PA 17801 to assist in their efforts to enrich the lives of their constituents with intellectual and developmental disabilities or EOS Therapeutic Riding Center 288 Dahl Road Bloomsburg, PA 17815.

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