Louise Joy Conway, 82

Louise Joy Conway, 82, of Ashland passed away peacefully in Lutheran Village, Monday evening,

September 26, 2016, following a four-year battle with Lewy Body Dementia with her daughter by her side.
She was born on August 18, 1934, in Green Township of Trumbull County to the late Franklin H. and Helen L. (nee Cole) Conway.

While attending Ashland High School, Joy was awarded her junior year a state Future Homemakers of America Degree. She was the first student in Ashland to achieve this award.

Joy graduated from Ashland High School, Class of 1952.

Joy earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Education from Ashland College in 1965. She was one of three students out of her graduating class of 68 who was a recipient of the faculty’s Gamma Alpha Kappa award for high scholastic achievement by President Glenn Clayton. Joy and her family moved to Cleveland this same year. She later went on to further her education and attended Harvard for a semester focusing on Women’s Studies.

She worked for 30 years in the Parma City School District as a Home Economics teacher having retired in 1992.

After her retirement, Joy would once again call Ashland home, when she relocated and built her retirement home.

Once in Ashland, Joy was an active substitute teacher who taught in numerous districts for 15 years.
She was a devoted member of the Christ Community Evangelical Free Church. Joy was an avid reader who enjoyed traveling and bargain shopping at Goodwill.

Joy is survived by her loving children, Laura (Elvin) Coblentz of Fredericksburg and Mike (Karen) McCombs of Brook Park; six grandchildren, Janine (Mike) Coblentz McDowell of Copley, Jared (Emily) Coblentz of Berlin, Janelle (David) Kerek of Charleston, South Carolina, Janna (Derek) Mast of Millersburg, Patrick (Kelly) McCombs of Nashville, Tennessee, and Jason McCombs of Brook Park; three great grandchildren, Calista Coblentz, Harper Kerek, and Brynn Mast; two future great grandsons McDowell and McCombs; two sisters, Pat Richey of Ashland and Rose Sage of Bethesda, Maryland; her canine companion, Max; and her feline companion, Patches.

Funeral services will be held, Saturday, October 1, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. in the Christ Community Evangelical Free Church, 1272 County Road 758, Ashland, Ohio 44805 with Pastor Mike Futrell officiating. Interment will be in the Nankin Cemetery. Friends may call Friday, September 30, 2016, in the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Christ Community Evangelical Free Church, 1272 County Road 758, Ashland, Ohio 44805 or to the Cat Sanctuary, 1130 East Main Street, No. 136, Ashland, Ohio, 44805.

For those who may not be able to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com.

Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to be handling the arrangements for Louise Joy Conway.

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