Dorval Joyce (Darland) Hurst

Dorval “Joyce” (Darland) Hurst, 85, originally of Shelbyville and later Greenfield, Indiana passed away on May 20, 2020 at a private residence in Anderson, Indiana.  She was the daughter of the late Ruby Mae (Darland) Willis and Alvie B. Darland of Springfield, KY.  

Joyce was born September 28, 1934 at home in Springfield, a small rural town in central Kentucky.  At the age of 15, she moved with her parents and two younger brothers to Shelbyville, Indiana where she graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1952.  Like many others in the 1940’s and 1950’s, she loved westerns and once remarked that her favorite TV show was Roy Rogers & Dale Evans.  She later watched several hours of the Gaither’s and the Statler Brothers on TV.

Joyce met her future husband, Wendell Hurst, when she was working as a waitress at Chicken and Steak Inn, a long-gone legendary diner and hangout in Shelbyville, Indiana.  The story goes that Wendell’s cousin brought Wendell to the diner to see the girl his cousin was interested in.  But Joyce took a liking to Wendell instead and the rest was history.  

Joyce and Wendell were married in Shelbyville on April 10, 1953.  They moved to Fort Benning, Georgia when Wendell entered the U.S. Army where he rose to the rank of Corporal, serving as a cook.  It was there that they welcomed their first child, ConnieJo.  

After moving back to Shelbyville in July 1955, Wendell and Joyce started farming.  A son, Ron, and a daughter, Wendi, were born in Shelbyville in 1955 and 1957, respectfully.    Joyce worked as a clerk in the Shelby County Courthouse and later at Production Credit Association as a loan facilitator.  They operated their family farm for many years before retiring and moving to Florida.   In 2009, they moved back to Indiana to be closer to family.

Along with her parents, Joyce was preceded in death by her step-father Ralph O. Willis of Springfield, her sister-in-law, Donna Darland, and her husband of over 60 years, Wendell Dwain Hurst.  

Joyce is survived by her children ConnieJo Harris (Jeff), Ron Hurst (Debbie), and Wendi Hurst (Larry Kinnick).  Joyce and Wendell also have four grandchildren, Kelly (Dane), Cameron (Kayce), Rebecca (Mark), and Mallory (Brandon) and four great-grandchildren, Jack, Axl, Liam, and Ava.  Joyce also is survived by her brothers, Jerry Darland and Carollton Darland (Pat), sister Pamela Smith, and caregiver Brittany Hart and 
Molly Brzezinski.
A graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, June 11, 2020 at Forest Hill Cemetery with Rev. Mike Manning officiating.  Visitation at the funeral home will be  Thursday morning, June 11th from 11:00 am until the time of the service.
Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice in Joyce’s memory.

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