Joyce Waite Lehtonen, 84, of The Villages, FL, went to her Heavenly Father from Cornerstone Hospice on February 12, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her husband David and her sister Dee (Waite) Hublou of Seattle, WA as well as her children and grandchildren. Joyce was born on January 28, 1940, the daughter of Colonel Gilbert Autney Waite and Dorothy Meacham Waite in Salt Lake City, UT. She brought love and joy into the world and had an extraordinary talent for making one feel that they were the only person in the room in her relationships with others. Joyce went on to graduate from South High School in 1958 and was awarded a scholarship to the University of Utah in recognition of her excellent scholarship record. While living in Scottsdale, AZ in 1973, Joyce was enlisted by a friend to teach David how to play bridge. Theirs was a real-life love at first sight romance. They were engaged ten days after that first meeting and married on December 27, 1973! They honeymooned in Guaymas, Mexico flying there in their Cessna aircraft. Throughout their life together they were inseparable and in December of last year they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Joyce and David have five children: Deborah (Lehtonen) West of Scottsdale, AZ; David S. Lehtonen of Austin, TX; Brad Button of Buda, TX; Brandy (Button) Lachocki of Colorado Springs, CO; and Lisa Lehtonen of Fitchburg, MA. They have four grandchildren: Matthew West of Portland, OR; Lauren (Lehtonen) Oltman of Grand Prairie, TX; William Lachocki of Colorado Springs, CO; and Michael Lachocki of Rock Hill, SC. Joyce's professional career included successful leadership roles at Mountain Bell, AT&T Phone Center Stores, and Suntree Realty after moving to FL, but her first love was being a wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved having the grandchildren with her during their summer vacation where they met other children who were also visiting their grandparents. For several years she was integral to bringing the family together in Orlando for an annual reunion. The family continues to cherish these loving memories. Joyce was very active in her neighborhood, playing Mah-jongg, participating in her monthly Book Club, and the Classy Ladies luncheon group. She loved attending The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra concerts with David and their friends. Hers was a life well-lived that serves to be an example to us all. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Joyce's name to St. Jude Children's Hospital or Shriners Hospital for Children. A family gravesite service will be held a later time at the National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.