Colonel Joyce Martina Snavley

Colonel Joyce Martina Snavley
October 1, 1926 – April 13, 2018

Joyce Martina Snavley, 91, passed away on April 13, 2018. She was a resident of Colorado Springs for 38 years.

Joyce was born on October 1, 1926 to Martin and Nellie (Bush) Snavley in Warren, Pennsylvania. She graduated from high school in Titusville, Pennsylvania and then from Oil City Hospital School of Nursing.

Joyce joined the USAF Nurse Corps in November 1952. She said that she joined the Air Force to see the world. Indeed she traveled the world. She had assignments in Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, and USAF Dispensary at Miho, Japan. She attained her flight nurse certificate at Gunter AFB, Alabama, and subsequently flew with the Aeromedical Evacuation Group out of Tachikawa AB, Japan. She worked at USAF Hospital, Sheppard AFB, Texas, then assigned to Toul-Rosières AB, France as charge nurse of obstetrics. She was supervisor of OB at Travis AFB, California before another flying assignment with the 10th Aeromedical Group out of Hickam AFB, Hawaii; her favorite assignment. She is the recipient of the Bronze Star; for bravely helping evacuate wounded personnel from Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam while it was under heavy fire. Joyce became the Chief Nurse at the USAF Academy Hospital and USAFA Command Nurse. An assignment came at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio to be OB/GYN Supervisor. She attended SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York and received her certificate in Nurse Midwifery. Joyce was selected to initiate and assume the role of Director of the USAF Nurse-Midwifery Program at Andrews AFB, Maryland. Colonel Snavley retired from the USAF at Andrews AFB after a very fulfilling and amazing career.

Joyce enjoyed collecting stamps, coins, postcards, angels and penguins. She amassed impressive collections of all! She loved traveling and traveled all seven continents extensively. Joyce was an active member of Sunrise Methodist Church from inception, serving on the mission board, memorial committee and as a library volunteer.

Joyce is survived by her brother, Merle (and Lois) Snavley; sister-in-law, Clara Snavley; nephews and nieces: Ron Snavley, Roger Snavley, Deidra (Snavley) Mitchell, Lavonne Snavley, Jenette (Snavley) (Cox) and Leroy Forsberg, Elizabeth (Snavley) Bogue, Rebecca Snavley, Martha (Snavley) and Tony Sprague, Martin Snavley, Marilyn Reynolds and Ron Kratts, Everett (and Gail) Reynolds; and many great nephews and nieces. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Nellie Snavley; her brothers, Vernon Snavley, and Neil Snavley; and her sister, Esther (Snavley) Reynolds.

A memorial service, with military honors, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on May 5 at Sunrise Methodist Church, 2655 Briargate Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO. A reception follows the memorial service at Sunrise Methodist Church. Joyce will be laid to rest in Tidioute, Pennsylvania, service pending.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Colonel Joyce M. Snavley’s name may be made to the Women’s Memorial Foundation, Department 560, Washington, DC 20042-0560. She was a charter member of the Women’s Memorial and helped make the monument happen 20 years ago.

Joyce’s family offers heartfelt thanks to each who has made her passing a precious memory.