Obituary of Joyce E Eckardt

In the early morning hours of November 7, 2023, Joyce Elizabeth (Barrick) Eckardt of Media, PA put off her perishable body and entered eternally into the presence of her Savior at the age of 83. Joyce is survived by her husband of 63 years, Ralph William Eckardt, Jr.; her three children, Sherie (Eckardt) Gilbaugh, Ralph Eckardt III, and Lynda (Eckardt) Colucci; her "children in-love," (as Joyce insisted on calling them) Ron Gilbaugh, Melody (Perry) Eckardt, and Mario Colucci; and her five grandchildren, Sophia (Sofi), Kathryn (Katie), Isabella (Bella), Alexandria (Lexi), and Raphaella (Raell); grandchildren in-love Lee and Allison (Becky) Gilbaugh and Ryan and Laura (Gilbaugh) Williamson; Great grand children in-love Carson, Naomi, Waylon and Collins. Joyce was born on February 5, 1940 in Philadelphia, PA, the first child of Louis and Doris Barrick. A few years later, her sister Grace (now Grace Stanley) was born. Joyce gave her heart to Jesus as a young child and committed to serve him as a young teen. She graduated from Interboro High School in 1958 and attended Columbia Bible College in South Carolina and Philadelphia College of Bible. At the age of 20, she was married to Ralph, and they served the Lord in partnership for the remainder of her life. Joyce invested countless hours in ministry to children, beginning as a Sunday School teacher at Maranatha Tabernacle when she was in high school. She led Vacation Bible Schools at Maranatha, and taught missionary stories at Folcroft Union Church (she was truly a master of the lost art of flannelgraph). She taught 5-Day Clubs out of her home in Norwood PA and later developed a ministry working with TCKs (Third Culture Kids) all over the world. Although she came from humble beginnings, God gave her extraordinary opportunities to serve him around the world through her ministry alongside Ralph at Interserve. She traveled to more than 50 countries, meeting, serving, and loving people on every continent with the exception of Antarctica (pity the penguins). While at Interserve, Joyce built from scratch a ministry for TCKs. This ministry cared for the special needs of the children of missionaries including training, counseling, fun and games, and the development of a TCK community. To many, she became Auntie Joyce, an adopted part of their family. The TCK ministry that she started in the America region, is now a standard part of Interserve's ministry across all 21 national councils, and other missions organizations consulted with her on creating TCK ministries as well. Joyce impacted hundreds of lives around the globe and maintained close contact with many via email right up until she entered hospice care, and despite her suffering, her calendar listed four people she hoped to contact on the very day that she died. Joyce loved her husband, her children, and her grandchildren deeply and showed it in countless ways throughout her life. Her home was always welcoming and beautifully decorated for every season (as evidenced by the many boxes of decorations still in her basement). She created dozens of family traditions that will live on in future generations. Although she passed on many of her best recipes (Jesus' birthday cake, snickerdoodles, pineapple stuffing, and many more), it's unlikely that anyone will ever make them quite like Grammy did. Her love went far beyond her immediate family. Joyce was a generous hostess, and she made room in her home for many who needed temporary housing. Her concept of "family" easily expanded to include new members, from tiny babies, to young children, to a variety of adults who needed a place to call home. She extended that generosity of spirit to all that she came to know and developed and maintained close, loving relationships with people of all ages, nationalities, and backgrounds. But most of all, Joyce loved her Savior, Jesus. She was faithful in service and in her daily devotion. She left strong memories with family who often found her in her "quiet time," reading her Bible, doing devotions and praying for all those that she loved. She had no fear of death, because she was fully convinced that for her, to be "absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." Joyce was well named, for her life was full of Joy. When they were married, Joyce and Ralph chose a portion of Ephesians 1:12 as their life verse. It says "That we might be to the praise of His glory." It would give her great joy to know that so many people whose lives she touched stand as witnesses that hers was a life that brought praise and glory to her Savior. And now at last, she has heard her Master say "Well done, good and faithful servant!...Enter into the joy of thy Lord." ------ There will be a Memorial Service in Celebration of Joyce's Life on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 1:00pm. The service will be held at The Blue Church, 940 Baltimore Pike, Springfield PA 19064. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Joyce's life with her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Interserve – TCK Ministry P.O. Box 418, Upper Darby PA 19082, or to The Blue Church.