Joy (Pennybacker) West

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we share the passing of Joy Pennybacker West of Richardson, Texas. Joy passed peacefully from this life on January 16th, at 91 years of age, after four years of battling neurological complications relating to vascular dementia.
Joy was born on April 5th 1930, and was adopted from Hope Cottage in Dallas by George and Leona Pennybacker. Joy grew up in Oak Cliff, graduating from W.H. Adamson High School in 1948.
Joy married the love of her life, Edgar Junior West, on May 1st, 1953 with Dallas FBC Pastor Dr. W.A. Criswell officiating. During her husband's Air Force service, Joy volunteered to help with various USO activities, and she helped support her fellow military wives on and off base. On November 22nd 1963, Joy was working in the Parkland Hospital medical records department when President John F. Kennedy was shot. Joy became a mother in 1973 when she and Edgar welcomed their son Julian.
In 2019, through the miracle of DNA testing, Joy found her Robertson birth family and two living sisters and she was able to meet several relatives for the first time. It was a wonderful year and Joy was immensely thankful to learn about her biological family, and to gaze upon many photos of her birth parents Harry and Pansy Robertson.
Joy was also active in the Methodist church for many years, volunteering and donating her time to help others in need. Joy never met a stranger and made many lifelong friends, and she always lit up a room at gatherings. We will miss her dearly, yet we rejoice that she is at peace and free from the binds of her illness. We take comfort Joy knew every day that she was deeply loved by her family.
Joy is preceded in death by her husband Edgar J. West, her adopted parents, her step-mother Eva Sawdy, as well as her biological parents Harry and Pansy Robertson. Joy is also preceded in death by six siblings from her Robertson family.
Joy is survived by her son Julian West and his wife Kimberly of Richardson, her sister Dorothy Sue Diekmann of Fort Worth, and her sister Bobbie Lee Taylor of Waco. Joy is also survived by many nieces and nephews from her West and Robertson families, and very dear friends from Cottonwood Creek Healthcare Community in Richardson, TX.
A Memorial Service will be held at Hughes Family Tribute Center of Dallas, 9700 Webb Chapel Rd, Dallas, TX. 75220 at 3:00 p.m. Friday January 21st. An online streaming attendance will be offered at https://www.hughesftc.com/obituary/Joy-West.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to Visiting Nurses Association. VNA has taken great care of Joy throughout the years providing Meals-On-Wheels and, later, personal Hospice Care. Please see the "Donations" tab above.