Obituary of Joyce Failing

A memorial celebration and a farewell tribute will be held in Santa Cruz for Joyce Failing who passed away peacefully at her Aptos home on December 25th. Born in Los Angeles, California, she was 87 years old. Joyce was an accomplished pilot of both helicopter and fixed wing aircraft. Her career of more than 50 years saw her as an air race pilot, instructor and teacher. She was a member of Whirly-Girls International Women's Helicopter Pilots and the Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots. Joyce obtained her pilot's license at a very young age and volunteered her flying services during wartime. She also made significant contributions to the Failing family business, "Bun Boy Restaurants" headquartered in Baker, California. She is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Failing Fintz of Santa Cruz; her sons, Brad Failing of Aptos, and Michael Faelin of San Diego. She also leaves her four loving grandchildren: Patrick, Alia, Brennen, and Kiera; her brothers; Ted Carl of Santa Cruz, Richard Carl of North Carolina; her sisters; Sandy Williams of Portland, OR; and Judy Carwile of Hesperia, California. She was laid to rest in a private ceremony at Santa Cruz Memorial Park this past week. If you would like to share your condolences with her family and receive details on an upcoming farewell celebration for Joyce, please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com. Any kind acts of charity can be made in her memory to Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship of Ninety Nines (contact Peggy or Jacque at aechair@ninety-nines.org).