Joy L. Ruhl

Joy L. Ruhl

MOUNT GILEAD: Joy L. Ruhl, age 74, passed away at her home in Mount Gilead on April 15, 2012. Joy had been a lifelong resident of Marion County spending over 50 years living outside of Morral, until she moved to Mt. Gilead 4 years ago to live with her son and daughter-in-law.

Joy was born in Marion County on May 23, 1937 to the late Royal K. and Grace G. (Radel) Gillespie. She graduated from Harding High School in 1955. On June 2, 1956 she married the love of her life Ronald W. Ruhl with whom she enjoyed over 50 years of marriage until his passing in 2007. Joy was employed for over 20 years by the home offices of L&K Restaurants and Motels in Marion until her retirement in 2002. She was a former member of the Morral United Methodist Church and a current member of the Edison United Methodist Church. Joy enjoyed spending time with her extended family at dinners and parties and on vacation trips to Myrtle Beach. She was also an avid hiker and cross country skier and traveled to the western states many times with Ron to pursue these activities. She served as a mentor at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville and as a tutor at Ridgedale High School.

Joy is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jeff (Denise) Ruhl of Mt. Gilead; five grandchildren and their spouses, Cassandra (Jason) Shaw of Cleveland, MS., Claire (Vernon) Scott, Jr. of Norwalk, Josh (Jessica) Irwin of Scott City, KS., Jenni (Matt) Bishop of Galion, and Jana (Mike) Worner of Bellville; one granddaughter-in-law, Amanda Ruhl of Norwalk; and 13 great-grandchildren, Kaleb and Tyler Ruhl, Lorien Shaw, Cadence, Lacey, and unborn baby Scott, Wyatt and Shalynn Irwin, Lyla, Landon, and Logan Bishop, Kortney Morris, and Kristopher Worner; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Carol (Larry) Owings of Prospect, Linda Gillespie of Columbus; special friend, Orpha Robinson of Columbus; and one sister-in-law, Sharon Ruhl of Wausau, WI.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ronald; one grandson, Craig Ruhl; and a sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Frank Jessie.

Family and friends may call at the Gompf Funeral Home in Cardington on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. A celebration of Joy's life will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Mike Skelton officiating. The burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery in Chesterville.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider either the Morral or Edison United Methodist Church's or the Marion or Morrow County Relay For Life Organizations C/O Gompf Funeral Home.

To share a memory of Joy or to express a condolence to the Ruhl family please visit www.gompffh.com.