Joyce Hurt Peterson, 91, died Jan. 4, 2011, at the Place Assisted Living in Vero Beach.
She was born in New Orleans and lived in Sebastian for 18 years, coming from Memphis, Tenn.
She enlisted in the Navy WAVES during World War II.
She was stationed at Hunter College in New York City, Naval Air Station Atlanta and Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
She retired from the Memphis plant of International Harvester Co. (now Navistar) in 1982 after 26 years’ service. She was head of the English department at Shenandoah College (then in Dayton, Va.) for two years before enlisting.
She was a member of Roseland United Methodist Church, coming from Trinity United Methodist Church in Memphis. She was a graduate of the University of Missouri with a major of journalism. She received her master’s degree in English literature from Vanderbilt University.
Survivors include her son, Lee Peterson, of Memphis; daughters, Carolyn Duncan, of Sebastian and Joy DeVito, of San Jose, Calif.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Elliot Peterson, in 2000.
Memorial contributions may be made to Roseland United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 157, Roseland, FL 32957.
No services are planned. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Cemetery and Funeral Home in Memphis.
Local arrangements are by Fountainhead Funeral Home in Palm Bay.
