Joy Sitler

KNIGHTSTOWN, IN -- Joy Elizabeth Sitler, of Knightstown, Indiana, and formerly of Bowling Green, passed away on September 27 at the age of 30.

Joy was a prolific singer-songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist, and an all-around caring person.

She did post-graduate work in music composition at Bowling Green State University. While in Bowling Green, she became a fixture in the local singer-songwriter community. She performed at various venues in Bowling Green and Toledo both as a solo artist and with such groups as My Broken Demo Tape, Brain Weasels, Adoremus, Paco Is Desperate, and My Own Desert Island. She also performed in numerous cities in the Midwest and on the East Coast.

Previously, she attended Ball State University, where she was a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship in Fine Arts. She graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in music composition. Several of her works were selected for performance at composers' conferences around the country, including the SPLICE Institute and the Society of Composers, Inc. Her music compositions were performed by various musicians and musical ensembles on the Ball State campus. She herself also performed in several ensembles, including the New Music Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Wind Ensemble.

Joy was a 2013 graduate of Lincoln High School in Cambridge City, Indiana where she was the school's first recipient of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. While in high school, she performed in the Lincoln High School Concert Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, and Choir. She also performed in the Earlham College Jazz Band under the direction of Pavel Polanco-Safadit and in the Richmond Community Orchestra (RCO). She also arranged and composed music for her school ensembles and for the RCO.

Since 2021, Joy has been active in the SpinTunes on-line songwriting contests. She was a two-time finalist. Many of the songs she submitted became judges' favorites. She was an eager collaborator who celebrated and encouraged her fellow contestants and challenged them to grow as musicians. She is dearly missed by that international community.

Joy enjoyed hiking in Indiana State Parks and playing in Magic the Gathering tournaments.

She is survived by her parents, Chris and Penny Sitler (Knightstown) and a sister, Mariah Sitler (Minneapolis, Minnesota), and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by a favorite aunt, Elizabeth Sitler.

A memorial service will be held at New Castle (Indiana) First Friends Meeting at 2 pm on Friday, October 3, with Cathy Harris and Rick Schoeff officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service from 11 am until 2 pm.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Sitler Family Fine Arts Scholarship Fund, c/o Henry County Community Foundation, or to "To Write Love on Her Arms" in memory of Joy Sitler, at https://twloha.com/.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hinsey Brown Funeral Service in Knightstown, IN. Y

ou may express condolences or share a memory of Joy at www.hinsey-brown.com.