Rachel Sandys

Paulding - PAULDING - Rachel Sandys, formerly of Paulding, stepped into the loving arms of Jesus on Wednesday, July 19, at Cherry Blossom Assisted Living in Columbus, Ohio. She was 95.

She was born Rachel Bell on July 26, 1927, to Ira Emory Bell and Ethel (Austin) Bell in Sandusky, Ohio. She was the youngest of 12 children from her parents' previous families, and their own. She graduated from Latty High School in 1945 and took a job with Magnavox in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

In 1948, she married Paul David Troyer, of Paulding. Together, they farmed and raised three children: Alice (David) Jewell of Kingsport, Tennessee; Eva Martinez, Columbus, Ohio; and Mark Troyer, formerly of Lagrange, Georgia.

Rachel was unexpectedly widowed in 1965. She began working at S.K. Wayne in Defiance, Ohio, where she met Jack Sandys, also of Defiance. They married on April 29, 1967. She became a stepmother to his children Michael and Gary Sandys, and Patti (David) Westrick. In addition, Rachel and Jack had two children together: Lori (Joseph) Lapierre, Blacklick, Ohio; and Crystal (Terry) Chilman, Montesano, Washington.

During her life, Rachel attended both Rose Hill Church of God and Auglaize Chapel Church of God. She learned to play the piano in her 40's, and loved to sing the hymns. She was an excellent cook, an avid reader, and enjoyed baking, gardening, sewing, walking, puzzles, the Grand Ole Opry - and beating Jack at Scrabble. She was widowed again in 2012, after nearly 45 years of marriage.

She resided at the Gardens of Paulding from November 2020 until March 2022, when she was hospitalized with pneumonia. She then moved to Columbus to be near her daughter.

She is proceeded in death by her parents; two husbands; by her sisters Goldie (Bell) Coleman; Mae (Bell) Aregood; Stella (Bell) Hale; her brothers David Miller; Clarence Miller; Charles William Bell; Lloyd Bell; Ralph Bell; Emory Bell; Ira Bell; and Richard Bell - as well as all of their spouses; her stepdaughter, Patti; her son-in-law, Dave; and her son, Mark.

She is survived by her remaining children and stepchildren; 11 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She will be laid to rest in Live Oak Cemetery, Paulding, Ohio, on Saturday, October 14. A short graveside service will be held at 1 p.m.; friends are welcome to attend.