Joyce Hull
My mother, Joyce Ann Hull, died in the early morning hours of November 4, 2025 at the age of 88.
Joyce, the eldest of three sisters, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on September 9, 1937, to Robert and Louise Coleman. The day after turning 18, she married Ben Hull and never looked back. They were married for 67 years until Ben’s passing in 2022. In 1960 they, along with several of their childhood friends, moved to California, fortuitously choosing Santa Barbara as home. Ben and Joyce built a happy and successful life here, raising two children and remaining close with their childhood friends.
Joyce was a character. She did not mince words; she did not hold back and always told it like it was. She was her own person. At the same time, she had a great sense of humor and was generous to a fault. The needs and wants of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were always first and foremost. She was described by her sister Billie’s children as “both prickly and beautiful”, an apt description.
She loved to read, travel, play golf, shop, go wine-tasting, eat out with friends, be extravagant at Christmas and host family dinners. Friday nights will always be remembered as drive-in movie nights with those same Missouri friends and all their kids. What good, old-fashioned fun!
Known for her organizational skills, neatness and ability to run a tight ship, Joyce was a professional, effective administrative assistant: at GE Tempo, Devereux School and finally at UCSB’s College of Engineering.
We would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Katerina Marcellin and Anton Zamyatin who oversee Casa San Miguel with love, care, integrity and tireless support; her kindhearted main caregiver, Vefa Gasanova who is truly an angel on earth; and Ella Asanova who nourishes everyone at Casa San Miguel with her amazing meals.
We are also grateful for the personal and compassionate care provided by Central Coast Home Health and Hospice as well as Dr. Jeffrey Bourne and his staff for attentively looking after Mom’s health and welfare.
Joyce is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Steve Thompson; her grandson Andrew Hull, his wife Darcy French-Myerson and their children Ruby and Llewyn Hull; her grandson Oliver Thompson and his wife Daniela Thompson; and her daughter-in-law Pam Bohn.
She will be terribly missed by her family and her friends (Ginny, Bev, Donna, Sue). Private interment will be at Goleta Cemetery where she will be placed next to her husband Ben and her son Bryan. She was also pre-deceased by sisters Billie White and Sandra Keeney.
Mom/Joyce/ Grandma, we thank you for the wisdom, knowledge and love you gifted to each and every one of us. We will never forget you.
