Joyce McLendon, friend of the old car hobby and ACD Automobile Museum, has passed away

Joyce McLendon passed away peacefully on March 4 in Palm Beach, Fla., at the age of 94. Joyce was a remarkable woman whose charitable work helped many people and institutions, including the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum.

The youngest of three children, Joyce Elnora Wiley was born to Robert and Lois Wiley on Nov. 11, 1926, in Auburn, Ind. Her father was export manager for the Auburn Automobile Co. and her mother a homemaker. In 1938 they founded the Wiley Export Corp. and worked together for 35 years. In 1946 Joyce married a local war hero, James H. McIntyre, and raised her family in Auburn. It was in Auburn that her spirit of volunteerism began. She also served on committees in the local government, sometimes representing Auburn at a state and federal level. Her early involvement as a founding member of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum gave her great satisfaction as she served as a board president and worked diligently to successfully place the museum on the National Historic Registry. She also worked on many charities, including those in her eventual home of Palm Beach, although she remained forever proud of her Midwestern small-town roots.

A memorial service will be held at a future date at The Royal Poinciana Chapel in Palm Beach, Fla. Those wishing to honor Joyce with a donation are asked to consider The Lord's Place in West Palm Beach; The Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews; The Alzheimer’s Association in Clear Water, Fla.; and The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum.

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