Joyce A. Ford Brinker passed away on Monday, May 12, 2025 at Otterbein SeniorLiving in Pemberville, OH. She was born on December 2, 1941 to Emerson A. and Thelma (Emch) Stickel in Bowling Green, OH. She was a 1959 graduate of Eastwood High School.
Joyce married Lester Ford in 1961, and they were blessed with three children: Sandy, Lori and Jeff. Later they divorced. Joyce married Richard Brinker in 1995, and they were married nearly 15 years before his passing in 2010.
Joyce was a lifelong member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, an officer of the Eastwood Schools Alumni Association, and a member of the Down to Earth Garden Club. She won numerous awards at the Wood County and Pemberville Free Fair flower shows. She enjoyed polka dancing at festivals in Ohio and later in Texas and Missouri. Her greatest joy was her family, especially her grandchildren. Joyce attended every event she could in her grandchildren’s lives, including sporting events and other activities. She also chronicled these events in extensive scrapbooks for each of them.
Joyce is survived by her daughters Sandra (Randy) Gardner of Bowling Green, Lori (Tom) Avers of Gibsonburg, and daughter-in-law Tammy Ford of Toledo; grandchildren Brooks (Laura) Gardner, Christina (Jordan) Olmstead, Austin (Brittanne) Gardner, Brent (Stephanie) Lowry, Danielle Lowry, Brock (Kylie) Avers, Taylor (Junior) Adame, Ryan (Karis) Avers, and Brady Ford; 15 great-grandchildren; stepchildren Scott (Margie) Brinker, Amy (Rich) Glass, and Patti (Stewart) Brann; brother Dale (MaryElyse) Stickel; and sisters-in-law Kitty Hahn, Janell Vickers, and Marilyn Hamen. In addition to husband Richard, Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; son Jeffrey Ford; sister Carol Stickel; sisters-in-law Helen Jean Rollins and Ruth Ann Hentges; and brother-in-law Paul Brinker.
Family and friends will be received 4-7 pm, Monday, May 19, 2025 at Marsh & Marsteller Funeral Home, 4094 State Route 105, Pemberville, OH. The funeral service will be held 11 am, Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 220 Cedar Street, Pemberville. Additional visitation will be at the church starting at 10 am until the time of service. Officiating will be Pastor Timothy Philabaum. Joyce will be laid to rest at Troy Township Cemetery, Luckey, OH.
The family requests that memorials take the form of contributions to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or Ashanti Hospice. Those wishing to express a word of encouragement may share a memory or photo at www.marshfuneralhomes.com.
