Joyce Marie Keilholtz

Joyce Marie Keilholtz, 87, went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 18, 2024. She was born on January 26, 1937 to Samuel and Sadah Long. She grew up near Rocky Ridge, MD and graduated from Thurmont High, got married and lived on a small farm in Thurmont where she raised a son and three daughters.

Joyce moved to Hagerstown, MD in 1976 with the girls and graduated from Hagerstown Business School a year later. She then returned to Thurmont and got a job at Moore Business Forms where she worked a couple years. She then married the love of her life, Robert P. Keilholtz. The happy couple moved to Deland, FL where she worked in the cafeteria of the local school system for a few years. Joyce and Robert then found property they loved in Hiawassee, GA where they built their dream home – doing much of the work themselves.

Joyce had many interests including gardening, playing cards and dominoes, volunteering at the local Food Pantry, and entertaining or visiting with friends and family, and traveling. She and Bob traveled extensively across the US learning fun facts about all their destinations. They also visited several foreign countries delighting in the scenery and making friends along the way.

Joyce greeted everyone with a smile and an encouraging word. She always looked to the needs of others before herself. She was thoughtful and good about sending notes and cards to loved ones for all occasions.

 She and Bob were very involved with McConnell Baptist Church and went on several mission trips to foreign countries, as well as volunteering ⁷cally. Joyce was always by Bob’s side, assisting often with home renovations or whatever his latest project was. They both had a heart to help those in need in their community.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, eleven siblings, her first husband, and a daughter, Patricia Ann Creeger. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Robert Keilholtz and her four children: Donald Creeger (Emma), Jody Gust (David), Natalie Olsen (Kyle), and Tara Joy (Pat); ten grandchildren – Wes Olsen, Matt Gust (Ali), Julia Carkhuff (Ken), Bryan Gust (Lindzey), Sarah Finch (Connor), Katie Joy, Alex Joy (Kayla), John Creeger, Amy May (Ethan), and Michael Creeger; and nine great-grandchildren – Autumn Gust; Rylee Armiger; Brooke Brightwell; Liberty, Kenneth, and Abigail Carkhuff; Avery and Oliver Joy; and Josiah May.

Relatives and friends are invited to a celebration of life on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 2 pm at McConnell Baptist Church, 84 Church St., Hiawassee, GA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Town County Food Pantry, PO Box 42, Hiawassee, GA 30546. Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at Banister-Cooper Funeral Home, www.banisterfuneral.com.