Some Family History of Joyce Mae Manwarren Matthias Middleton from Jack's point of view!

Joyce was born as the third child of William Earl Manwarren and Lois Irwin Manwarren who owned a farm approximately 12 miles NE of Lyons, KS.  She attended a nearby grade school at Mitchell, KS through the 8th grade and then attended Lyons High School where she graduated with "Honors" being in the top 10% of her class.  She then attended Emporia State Teachers College for two years before she interrupted her College by marrying her High School sweetheart, Bill Matthias.  He was just graduating from Wichita State University and entering the Air Force for pilot training.  During Bill's 6 years with the military as a pilot they spent approximately 4 years in Germany with the 55^th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron.  When Bill was released from Active Duty, they took up their residence in Wichita and he became a test pilot for Cessna Aircraft.   They began attending the Wichita Bible Church in the mid 70's where I was the pastor.  Though Bill and Joyce had attended the church for several years, I had not been in their home, until Bill was killed in an airplane crash just  north of Newton, KS.  He was test flying an experimental aircraft which he had just finished building in his home.  It crashed on its maiden flight, and I helped Joyce plan the funeral arrangements, and then conducted his funeral service in June of 1980.  Joyce then began attending Wichita State University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

At that time the church was needing to hire an additional secretary, and one of the Deacons asked if I had thought of hiring Joyce.  I interviewed her for the job and among other things was overjoyed to learn that she could type!

I had no idea that 20 years later, she would not only be typing letters, and doing bookkeeping for the church, but that she would become my wife!  We were married in Plano, Texas April 8th, 2000 in the home of my oldest daughter, Susan Hanson.