Joan Amelia Armitage

ARMITAGE
Joan Amelia
Joan passed into God's loving embrace Saturday, May 21 2016, surrounded by all the love and light her kids could send with her. She was born in Toledo to Joel and Lenore (Gambrill) Spearing May 31, 1928. She graduated from DeVilbiss High School, and worked at Owens-Illinois and Toledo Engineering. She met Lester, and they married May 28, 1949. They had two children, Jeffrey and Brenda.
After getting her kids off to a good start in school, she returned to work teaching the organ to literally hundreds of students at Howards Organs and Pianos. She loved her music so much, she became a member of the Toledo Organ Club and the Toledo Area Theater Organ Society and performed in concerts locally for many years. While at Howards, she would play in center court at Franklin Park Mall at Christmas time. She fulfilled a bucket list wish in 2010 by climbing the stairs to the organ loft at Trinity Episcopal Church, where she was a lifelong member, and playing the organ during a blanket making blitz. About a third of her living room is home to a church-worthy Conn organ.
She began a love affair with Hawaii on her 25th wedding anniversary. Thereafter, she and Les traveled to Maui every other year, staying the entire month of February. After his passing in 2009, her kids benefitted from “having to go along and help mom” in Maui from 2012 until just 2 months ago. Her home is filled with souvenirs from her trips and also of her other passion, Snoopy.
In her 60's, she took up golf. She played on the Monday Morning Swingers league at Giant Oak in Temperance and was their president for about 20 years. She sunk her last putt there about 4 years ago.
By far, nothing above compared to her fierce love and devotion for Les and her children. Her son, Jeff was her constant companion after Les passed away. He and Brenda provided the gentle loving care and support she needed to remain in her home through multiple periods of illness up until the last month of her life. She was not only their mother, but their rock and hero. They survive her along with special friend, Marsha Manon.
Visitation will be held at the Foth-Dorfmeyer Mortuary, 3815 Sylvania Ave. (at Woodley Rd.) on Tuesday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. with additional visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m. Interment Toledo Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, 315 Adams Street, Toledo OH 43604.
Online condolences may be left for the family at
www.fothdorfmeyer.com
As published in The Blade