Joyce Elinor Steward

Joyce Elinor Stribling Steward, 87, died Oct. 3 at Kittitas Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center, Ellensburg.

She was born Jan. 16, 1917, in Paton, Iowa, to Oscar Burdell and Hattie May (Jones) Stribling. She attended Paton public schools; Stephens College in Columbia, Mo.; Iowa Univesity; and Grinnell College in Iowa, from which she graduated in 1938. She earned a master’s degree from Drake University in 1951.

She taught English at West High School, Madison, Wis., from 1951-64, and spent the 1961-62 academic year at Yale on a John Hay Fellowship.

From 1964-66, she served as chair of the English department at Lafollette High School in Madison.

In 1966, she joined the Univerisity of Wisconsin-Madison English department, where she taught composition and an innovative Women in Literature course, and also managed the writing laboratory. She authored numerous English textbooks and was active in several professional organizations, notably the National Council of Teachers of English.

She retired from the University of Wisconsin in 1982 and moved to Port Madison on Bainbridge Island, where she continued to write, co-authoring a book for elder writers and lecturing through a program of the Washington Commission for the Humanities.

In 1999, she moved to Ellensburg to be closer to family. In her 80s, she published a book of poetry and taught classes for senior citizens.

She is survived by son Chuck (Peggy) Steward, grandson Derek (Kerry) Steward, great-granddaughter McKenzie Steward and great-grandson Cabot Steward, all of Seattle; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A private family service is planned, with burial on Bainbridge Island. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Bainbridge Island Library.

Arrangements are by Steward and Williams Tribute Center, Ellensburg.