Joyce Rich

Joyce Ballew Rich passed away January 20, 2022, at Mapleton Care Center, Lakewood, due to complications related to Lewy Body Dementia, at the age of 80. She was born on August 14, 1941, in Kansas City, MO. Joyce attended Elementary through High School in Liberty, MO. She graduated from the University of Kansas, with a B.S. in Education, in 1962, and began a 32-year Elementary teaching career in North Kansas City, MO. She also earned an M.A. degree in Elementary Administration from UNC, Greeley, CO. After moving to Colorado, in 1964, she continued her teaching career in Jefferson County (South Lakewood Elementary). For several years after her retirement, Joyce was a volunteer at the front desk at Lutheran Hospital. Joyce was a member of the Applewood Valley United Methodist Church, Golden.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph Wilson Ballew and MaeBelle Allen Ballew.

She is survived by her husband, Ron; her daughter Joanna Milewski (John), of Denver; her son Allen Rich (Heather), of Tucson; and seven grandchildren.

A private interment service was held at Crown Hill Good Shepherd Mausoleum.

A public Celebration Service for Joyce will be held on Friday, May 20, at 2:00 pm, Applewood Valley United Methodist Church, 2035 Ellis St., Golden, CO 80401 (west on 20th Ave. from Lakewood) Everyone is welcome.  The Celebration of Life will be streamed live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3XBJ7n7jIw&feature=youtu.be

Our thanks to the wonderful staff at Mapleton Care Center, for their care and support for Joyce.

The family kindly requests that those wishing to honor Joyce’s life make a memorial gift to the Choral Scholar Program at Applewood Valley United Methodist Church (AVUMC), 2035 Ellis Street, Golden, CO 80401.