Joyce Gilts, 91, of Perrysburg, passed away peacefully Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at the Manor of Perrysburg. Joyce was born in Ames, Iowa, July 3, 1932, to Edwin N. and Alberta (Davis) Kennedy. She graduated from Charles City High School, Charles City, Iowa, in 1950.
After high school, Joyce and three of her girlfriends moved to Washington, D.C., to serve as clerks at the FBI. Joyce met Sgt. Richard (Dick) Gilts USMC, the love of her life, at Quantico, Virginia, during a USO dance. The young couple continued a romance through Dick’s deployment in Korea. When Dick returned from Korea and was discharged from the Marines they were engaged and then married. They were married in Iowa City, Iowa, on January 23, 1954, and soon moved to Toledo, where they would reside until moving to Walbridge, in 1972.
Joyce and Dick were hands-on parents, actively participating in their children’s sports, cub scouts, music lessons, family events and social activity at Bethany United Methodist Church. Joyce and Dick were enthusiastic participants in a lifelong social group formed at Bethany, the Ford Runabouts. The Runabouts were close friends who met monthly at each of the members’ homes. The Gilts’ continued these friendships as long as they were physically able to get together, and kept in touch through mail and phone calls as they aged.
Joyce was primarily a full-time mother and home manager when the boys were young, but did work outside the home for Sears and Ambassador Greeting Cards.
Joyce was an avid baker and a thoughtful homemaker. Her lemon meringue pie and cheesy potatoes were requested often by her grandchildren. Joyce and Dick traveled frequently with friends and through Dick’s work. The young family primarily spent vacations either camping or visiting family members in Iowa or Oscoda, Michigan.
In retirement, Joyce and Dick continued to travel and also actively participated in Zenobia Shrine activities and Walbridge VFW Post 9963, where Dick served as the quartermaster.
One of Joyce’s most frequent phrases was, “Well bless your heart!” She genuinely delighted in spending time with her children and grandchildren, and her grandchildren loved spending time with “Mema,” especially sleepovers. Joyce was incredibly proud of her children and grandchildren, and was a dedicated and loving caretaker to many in her life.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Richard G. Gilts; parents; in-laws. Glenn M. and Hilda Gilts; brother, Dr. James F. Kennedy; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Clifford and Betty Loveday, and her grandson, Jaryd Wellstead Gilts.
Joyce is survived by sons, Richard A. (Mary Beth) Gilts, Timothy D. Gilts and Christopher T. (Jamie) Gilts; grandchildren, Tara D. Gilts, Erika E. (Rikki) Gilts, Jacob D. Gilts and Joshua N. Gilts; great- grandson, Jack W. Gilts-Surovjak, and brother, Joseph D. (Irene) Kennedy.
The Gilts’ family wishes to express their sincerest and heartfelt thank you to the Manor of Perrysburg and Hospice of Northwest Ohio for the compassionate and professional care which Joyce was blessed to have received.
Friends will be received on Friday, September 8, beginning at 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., at Witzler-Shank- Walker Funeral Home, 222 East South Boundary Street, Perrysburg.
The funeral service will be held at the Perrysburg First Presbyterian Church, 200 East Second Street, Perrysburg, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 9. It will be officiated by the Rev. Kathryn Rivera Torea. Interment will follow at Fort Meigs Union Cemetery, Perrysburg.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to any of the following organizations: Perrysburg First Presbyterian Church, Perrysburg Schools Foundation the “Jaryd Wellstead Scholarship,” or Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Condolences may be left to her family online at walker funeralhomes.com.