Mrs. Joann (Stout) Ricketts formerly of Belle Center, OH, died August 2nd at the Ames Family Hospice House in Westlake, OH, after a brief illness and in the company of her family.
Born on the Patton family farm outside of Belle Center on August 8, 1935, Joann attended Belle Center Schools where she was known as an A student, accomplished trombonist and pianist. She enjoyed working at the Belle Center Department Store and the United Telephone Company as a young lady. Later in life, she started Joann’s Flower Shop from her garage, which she credited with financing college educations for her daughters; as she was an advocate for higher education. Sixteen years later, she closed her flower shop the day her husband, Glenn Ricketts, retired. The two of them then embarked on their grand adventure out west and in Canada, pulling a pop-up camper and visiting many National Parks and scenic areas during their travels. She and Glenn also had the wonderful experience of living and working on the Quad City Queen Paddleboat on the Mississippi River for a summer.
The love of Joann’s life was always her husband, Glenn. Joann met Glenn in elementary school, where she paid her sister, Linda, a quarter to tell Glenn she liked him. Years later, while in high school, Glenn asked Joann out on a first date to the Holland Theatre in Bellefontaine; thus began a loving friendship and marriage that stretched 70 years.
Joann was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker. She enjoyed sewing and was a wonderful cook; she liked her crossword puzzles in the evening, and journaling. She wrote a summary of her day, every day, for decades and in recent years, she and Glenn would spend hours reading from her journals, fondly reminiscing about days gone by.
Her Christian faith was a cornerstone of her life. She was a former member of the United Presbyterian Church in B.C. and most recently a member of the Dr. Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, OH, where she and Glenn attended with her daughter Lisa and son-in-law Jim. She was a dedicated choir member and pianist at several churches over the years.
Joann was a loving mother to Mark (Londa) Ricketts, LuAnn (Allan) Hoffman, Lisa (Jim) Shiban, and Lori (Mark) Dravillas; and grandmother to seven grandchildren (Heather, Ryan, John (Meghan), Katie, Michael, Paul (Leah), and Mark Glenn. In the last year, her great granddaughter, baby Emily Lynne, brought her much joy on a weekly basis.
Joann had very close family ties and loved her sister Linda (John) Rader and Nancy (Reno, deceased) Zadra, along with Glenn’s family. She valued regular phone calls and updates from her sister-in-law Melva (Bill) Ricketts, who kept her in touch with family and activities in Belle Center over the years. She was very proud of her heritage as a Patton and often spoke of being raised as a child on the Patton family farm in the company of her parents (Edison and Martha Stout) and grandparents (J. Carl and Maude Patton), along with other family and cousins. Joann’s children will work hard to continue the many family relationships she treasured throughout her lifetime.
A Celebration of Life Service will be at noon Saturday, August 13, at the New Richland Baptist Church located at 8651 Co Rd 39, Belle Center, OH. Pastor Eric Markovich from Brooklyn, OH, will be officiating her service.
Cards with notes and memories pertaining to Joann have been requested by Glenn so he can enjoy reading them for years to come. They can be mailed to: Mr. Glenn Ricketts, 4739 Forest Edge Drive, Brooklyn, OH 44144.