Joyce I. Bear, 96, formerly of Germansville, died Feb. 9, 2017, in Fellowship Manor, Whitehall.

She was the wife of the late Walter C. Bear.

Born Aug. 12, 1920, in Heidelberg Township, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Ida A.R. (Scheetz) Hamm.

A food service worker in the Northwestern Lehigh School District for 28 years, she retired in 1984.

She was the oldest member of the United Church of Christ congregation of Heidelberg Union Church, Heidelberg Township.

Her survivors include a son Richard W. Bear and his wife, Sandra, of Vestal, N.Y.; daughter Nancy J. Zimmerman and her husband, Paul, of Kempton; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by 13 siblings.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at heintzelmancares.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the church memorial Fund and/or to Lehigh Valley Hospice, both c/o the funeral home, P.O. Box 196, Schnecksville, PA 18078-0196.

Arrangements were made by Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Schnecksville.