Joyce Ann Sutphen

Joyce Ann Shipman Sutphen was born in San Antonio, Texas on August 15, 1933, and passed from this life in Abilene on May 20, 2018. She was a graduate of Odessa High School and Abilene Christian College. On April 2, 1953 she married Bob L. Sutphen, and they were married for 63 years until his death on October 17, 2016. Early in their life together Bob spent much time overseas in the U.S. Navy while she stayed home with their oldest son. Later they made homes in Oklahoma City, OK; College Station, TX; Orange, TX; Baton Rouge, LA; Victoria, TX; Lubbock, TX; and Abilene, TX. In nearly all these places Joyce was a Sunday School teacher in the local Church of Christ. Over the course of 5 decades Joyce and Bob sang at countless weddings and funerals and were active members of the Hillcrest Church of Christ Singers until recently. Joyce loved to do crafts; she taught herself to make special occasion cards, which were the delight of all who received them.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Shipman of Odessa and Lubbock, and her husband Bob. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Bill and Doris Hoffman of Lubbock and her brother James Shipman of Abilene; her children Rob and Ellen Sutphen of Houston, Mark and Ronalyn Sutphen of Abilene, and Tommy and Dena Hollowell of Abilene;  grandchildren Ashley and husband Dylan Delaney, Max Martin, Trevor Martin, Abigail and husband Andrew Lawrence, Tyler and wife Leah Sutphen, Jessica Martin, Nicole Sutphen, Trey Hollowell; and great-grandchildren Elliot and Chloe Delaney and Farren Sutphen.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 25, 2018 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene.  Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 26th at Hillcrest Church of Christ with Terry Brown officiating.  A private family burial will follow at a later date.

Memorials may be given to Christian Service Center, P.O. Box 2957, Abilene, TX 79604.