Wednesday, January 19, 2022
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Dear Bixby Family, God bless you all. I met Joyce when I was a student at Mansfield University. The University had made a requirement that all secretaries were going to have to use computer equipment and Joyce was reluctant to learn it. During one summer session, after I watch Joyce dust the computer the entire summer, I finally tore the cover off it and said you need a job and we need to make sure that you learned this thing. I sat with her for several weeks and week after week she learned new tasks. After my summer session, I went home for a few weeks and I made a deal with Joyce that she could call me at any time, if she got stuck with one of her tasks. Joyce was very fearful that she was going to have to retire early, because she didn’t want to learn the new computer equipment and it wasn’t coming easy to her, but after our lessons, she mastered the task of using a computer and actually grew to like it over the years. She was able to keep her job for many more years than she originally thought, and after 30 years retired with Mansfield university.
On my 21st birthday Joyce was so happy with the help that I had given her, she took the time to make a cake for me for my birthday because she knew I would be away from home. Barr none, Joyce was the dearest member of the staff of Mansfield university. Signed Thelma Hodge Steidle, Class of 1988.
She will forever be in my memories and she will always be the dearest woman I ever met during my time at Mansfield. When I get married in 1989, Joyce and Britt actually made the trip from Mansfield to Scranton Pennsylvania to make it to my wedding. My sister Susan, was a student teacher under Britt when he worked at Mansfield high school.
Sincerely, all my love, Thelma.
