Joan Mae (Hartley) Reynolds

Through faith in God's grace as a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ, Joan Mae Reynolds entered heaven's gate on Thursday, July 7, 2022.

Joan was born to her father Dr. Dewey Hartley and her mother Emily Clark Hartley on April 28, 1930, in Tiffin, Ohio.   Upon graduation from Arcanum High School in 1948, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  Marriage to Duane R. Reynolds occurred in 1950.  Together, they chose to raise their four children in the Village of Arcanum. 

Joan's elementary school teaching career spanned 31 years from 1950 to 1989.  While serving in the Arcanum-Butler School System, membership in the NEA, OEA, and Darke County Teachers Association broadened experiences & delivery of services to 1st & 3rd graders.

Upon retirement, Joan became active in the Darke County Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).  This involvement provided a rich venue to build a support network for mentally and emotionally challenged adults.  Additionally, Joan's lifelong membership among the family of Faith United Methodist Church facilitated resources for devotion of the church's mission outreach while actively serving within the Christian Service Guild.  Increasingly, Joan and Duane's robust altruistic enthusiasm dovetailed the Brethren Retirement Community mission statement, where countless years of volunteer service strengthened residential programs.  Moreover, Joan's gestures of love and kindness revealed a deep cherishment of her family and lifelong friends.

Joan is preceded in death by her husband Duane "Lefty" Reynolds in 2019; her parents Dr. Dewey T. Hartley and Emily Clark Hartley; her in-laws Carl & Evelyn Reynolds; her sisters-in-law Norma Reed, Joan Lambcke, and Elaine Anderson; her uncles William (Evelyn), Paul (Charlotte) and Cleon (Elfreda) Clark.

She leaves her four beloved children:  Barbara (Dale) Ganger, Michael Reynolds, Christine Whitlow, and Carol (Earl) Hightower. Joan's memory is honored through the lives of her five grandchildren: Beth (Jim) Kessler, Craig (Miranda) Ganger, Mary (Ryan) Maimone, Sara (Travis) Hightower-Yoder & Allen (Meredith) Whitlow. Joan's great-grandchildren are touched by her gracious and generous love: Nate, Cole, & Cate Kessler, Gracie, Hudson, & Eli Ganger, Emma & Benjamin Maimone, and Blair & Ian Whitlow.

Kindly gather with family and friends as a gesture of tribute to Joan on Thursday, July 14 from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. at Kreitzer Funeral Home, located at 204 North Main Street, Arcanum.  A funeral ceremony will be held on Friday, July 15 at 11:00 a.m at Faith United Methodist Church, Arcanum.  A one-hour viewing begins at 10:00.  Burial follows in Abbottsville Cemetery.

If you desire, contributions in Joan's memory may be made to Faith U.M. Church Mission Fund, 101 East South Street, Arcanum, Ohio 45304, or to EverHeart Hospice Darke County Office, 1350 North Broadway Street, Greenville, Ohio 45331.

The Family expresses gratitude to the Brethren Retirement Community 4th floor staff and EverHeart Hospice staff for their loving attentive care given to Joan during her final days on earth.

E-mail condolences may be sent by going online to www.kreitzerfuneralhome.com.