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Joyce B. Rutt, 75, of Ephrata, passed away on Friday, December 7, 2012, at Lancaster Hospice and Community Care.

She was born in Ephrata to the late Milton and Mary (Keith) Beck and was the wife of Nevin Rutt, with whom she shared 50 years of marriage.

Joyce was a member of Bergstrasse Lutheran Church, Ephrata. She loved all children and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed playing Bingo, traveling, swimming and going to the beach. During her working years, Joyce worked as a teacher for 28 years, most of those years as a kindergarten teacher at Brecknock Elementary School for Eastern Lancaster County School District.

In addition to her husband, Joyce is survived by a son, Alex, husband of Lisa Rutt of Lancaster; a daughter, Angela, wife of Kenneth Gornish of New Holland; 4 grandchildren, Benjamin and Haley Gornish, Lucas and Lance Rutt; 2 brothers, Milton, husband of Elaine Beck of Brownstown, Gary Beck of Ephrata; and a sister, Jacqueline Witman of Ephrata.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Floyd Beck.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 12, from 6 to 7 pm at Bergstrasse Lutheran Church, 9 Hahnstown Rd., Ephrata, followed by a memorial service held at 7 pm, with Pastor Herbert Lohr officiating. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions in Joyce's memory may be made to Reece's Rainbow, P.O. Box 4024, Gaithersburg, MD 20885 or reecesrainbow.org. Reece's Rainbow is an agency which supports international adoption for children with special needs.

Arrangements by Stradling Funeral Homes, Inc., Akron/Ephrata.

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