Joyce Marie Linn (nee Ayers)

Joyce Marie Linn (née Ayers), 92, of Ohio City, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, surrounded by family.

She was born on October 16, 1933, in Rockford, to Beatrice Carol “Carol” (née Manley) Ayers, and Ford Edwin Ayers. She had two brothers and one sister. Joyce was a graduate of Ohio City-Liberty High School and in 1952, she married Paul Kent Linn; together they had nine children.

Joyce was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother to her family. She was a dedicated homemaker who enjoyed sewing and watching the Cincinnati Reds. She was a faithful member of the Ohio City Community Church of God where she served on the church council, funeral dinner committee and the prayer shawl ministry. In 2023, Joyce celebrated her 90th birthday with a dinner party that was attended by many family and friends which she fondly reflected on during her remaining years.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Paul Kent Linn, who passed on November 23, 1999; her parents, Carol and Ford Ayers; her brother, James Lee “Jim” Ayers, and her sister Marjorie Ann “Margie” Ayers.

Joyce Marie Linn is survived by her nine devoted children, Cheryl (Channing Rash) Solomon of Ohio City, Pamela (Ed) Garringer of Wapakoneta, Gary K. Linn of Vista, California, Rebecca (Rick) Boggs of Willshire, Jennifer (Dan) Linn of Willshire, Aaron (Krista) Linn of Springfield, Ohio, Julie Mulvey Linn of Ohio City, Lisa (Steven) Welch of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Kent Linn of Ohio City. She is also survived by Conner (Elizabeth) Linn, Spencer Linn and 10 other grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and her brother, Stanley Ayers of Van Wert.

There will be visitation from 4-8 p.m. Monday, July 20, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home of Van Wert. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, with visitation starting at 10 a.m. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Rockford.

Preferred memorials: the Ronald McDonald House or the Ohio City Community Church of God.

Online condolences may be expressed on the Tribute Wall at cowanfuneralhome.com.