DOVER - Joy Stokes went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus, on her 91st birthday, March 12, 2014 in the arms of her daughter and son-in-law at Cadia Health Center, Dover, after a 14 year battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born at Ft. Benning, Ga. on March 12, 1923. As the child of a career Army Officer, she lived in many states, and then attended Berkley University and University of Alabama. She was married to John B. Stokes, Jr. on June 12, 1943 at Camp Hood, Texas for 61 wonderful years. John and Joy raised their five children, one foster son, and entertained numerous guests in their home in Moorestown, N.J. and then retired to Zellwood Station, Fla. before moving to Dover. Joy loved her family and led and supported them in church, scouting, athletics and community and volunteer activities. She was a Girl Scout Leader, Den Mother, Sunday School teacher, Ruling Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown, N.J., and a volunteer for many years for Contact, a crisis intervention ministry. They brought the world to their children through opening their home to many international visitors. Joy was a member of Dover Presbyterian Church, Dover. In retirement they loved to travel all over the country and the world, visiting family and friends, hiking, birding, and learning as many new things as possible. She was preceded in death by her parents, Brig. General (retired) Walter Alexander Dumas and Josephine Lawson Dumas of San Francisco, Calif.; husband, Lt. Col. (retired) John B. Stokes, Jr. of Dover; brother, Lt. Col. (retired) Walter Arthur Dumas of Alexandria, Va.; son, John B. Stokes, III, of Iowa City, Iowa; and great-grandson, Dalin Kelley, at age 2, of Wynder, Ga. Joy is survived by two sons, David Stokes (wife, Nancy) of Woodbridge, Va., and Clarke Stokes of Kansas City, Mo.; two daughters, Susan Hajec (husband, Joe) of Camden and Kathy Lyall of Fredericksburg, Va..; daughter-in-law, Jacqueline Stokes of Eugene, Ore.; one foster son, Frank Campbell, Jr. of Boston, Ma.; 13 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. There will be a service to celebrate Joy's life at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 17, 2014 at the Wyoming United Methodist Church, 216 Wyoming Mill Road, Dover. The family will receive visitors an hour before the service. There will be a luncheon reception immediately following the ceremony. Donations can be made in her memory to Delaware Hospice, Inc., 911 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE or Wyoming United Methodist Church, 216 Wyoming Mill Road, Dover, DE 19904. Letters of condolences can be sent via www.pippinfuneralhome.com