Valerie “Joyce” Bohmier, 86, of New London, died Tuesday, Oct. 6, in her home. Born on Oct. 17, she was the only child of Henry G. and Valerie A. Trelawny.
Mrs. Bohmier is survived by her husband, Joseph William “Bill” Bohmier, with whom she shared 67 years of marriage, and four of their six children: Michael Bohmier (Joy), Patti Crossan (Ken), Tom Bohmier (Robbie), and Polly Preston (Ed). Mrs. Bohmier was pre-deceased by daughter Terry Bohmier and son Tim Bohmier and family (Sharon, Jessica, and Christina). She has eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, and six step-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Bohmier attended Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, and Plattsburg State Teachers College in Plattsburgh, N.Y. She then joined the Singer Sewing Machine Co. staff to teach and represent them in sales in Kingston, N.Y., and West Chester, Pa. After marrying Bill and settling into New London, Joyce focused on raising her family and supporting her husband’s many business endeavors, including the New London Airport.
Her passion for community involvement included founding the New London Recreation Association and the Avon Grove Youth Serving Coalition, serving on the Avon Grove School Board, and advocated for change locally on the grass roots political level. Well known as “the goat lady in New London,” Joyce was a member of the American Dairy Goat Association, bred and showed dairy goats for 35 years, and served as a 4-H dairy goat leader for Chester County during that time.
Joyce enjoyed animal husbandry, gardening, canning, sewing, and knitting … and teaching others the same. She also enjoyed traveling and visited Canada, Hawaii, Figi Islands, England, Scotland, France, Italy, Spain, Tunisia (Africa), Bermuda, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Her travels in and out of the U.S. allowed her to see and learn about many cultures and the needs of others. And, while a member of New London Presbyterian Church, she enjoyed hosting ‘Cords of Love,’ a ministry that brought ladies together to pray for and hand make items for various ministries, such as veterans, underprivileged, and chemotherapy patients.
Visitations to honor Mrs. Bohmier and her family will be held at the Christian Life Center, 125 Saginaw Road, Lincoln University, PA 19352, on Sunday, Oct. 11 from 6-8 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 12 from 1-2 p.m. A Life Celebration Service will be held 2 p.m. Monday, and her burial will follow at Union Hill Cemetery in Kennett Square.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christian Life Center C/O Missions Ministry 125 Saginaw Road, Lincoln University, PA 19352 and/or to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. Mrs. Bohmier’s obituary may also be viewed and condolences sent to the family at www.griecocares.com

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