The family of Jo Ann V. Boyd is mourning the heart-breaking loss of the matriarch of the Benner family, who passed away on Tuesday December 11, 2018 at the age of 89. Jo Ann was born on January 19, 1929 in Toledo, Ohio. She was the 12th and last surviving child of William Clemons Benner and Augusta J. C. W. (Rapps) Benner. Jo Ann was a 1947 graduate of De Villbiss High School in Toledo where she majored in Business and Secretarial studies in the business department. While in high school, Jo Ann worked summers at the DeVilbiss Company. Upon graduation, she became employed with the Toledo Scale Company as a stenographer in the Engineering Department. Later, she was employed by the Gulf Oil Company until she would return home to raise her family. During her employment she participated in the workplace sorority, bowling teams and other company charity events and causes. Jo Ann was an active member of the St. Luke’s Auxiliary and Women’s Group. During these years she took modeling courses and modeled clothing for various department stores.
Jo Ann was baptized, confirmed and married at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Courthouse Square, Toledo. She also was a Sunday School teacher for an all-boy class while attending St. Paul’s.
Jo Ann married Edward M. Bossler in 1951 in Toledo. Edward passed away approximately a year later due to a tragic accident at Toledo Lakefront Docks. There were no children of this union. On May 28, 1955, she married a fellow DeVilbiss graduate, Donald R. Boyd. They were married for over 51 years. Don would passed away in 2007 due to complications from Scleroderma. Don and Jo Ann had two daughters, Joette Lynn and Nannette Lee. Jo Ann became a dedicated wife and mother for her family. As a mother and housewife, she was an active member of Jackman Elementary Mothers’ Club and room mother. As her children grew older, the family became members of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Alexis Road. While a member there, she taught Vacation Bible School, participated in the Adult Education Program, volunteered with the Alter Guild and was chosen to be on the election committee for the renovation of the Emmaus Lounge. As a member of the women’s group at the Our Saviour Lutheran Church, she participated in the organization of birthday parties at the Lutheran Old Folk’s Home in East Toledo. This particular charitable work was important to Jo Ann, as her grandmother was employed at the Lutheran Home in the 1880’s and Jo Ann’s mother, Augusta, would be raised there from age 2 to 18 while her mother was employed at the home. Jo Ann passed away at the same facility to complete three generations of this legacy on December 11, 2018. After moving to Sylvania in 1992, she become a member of Olivet Lutheran Church.
Throughout her life, Jo Ann enjoyed the many vacations with family, which included traveling to the east and west coasts, Michigan and Canada. Traveling to Florida when Walt Disney World opened in the 1970’s was a particular exciting time for the Boyd family. Jo Ann was an avid crafter and sewer. She made many outfits for her daughters during their formative years. Jo Ann was most creative when stitching countless embroidery, quilting and needlepoint projects. These projects filled her home and also were given as gifts to friends and family. She passed this talent onto her two daughters. She was the editor and creator of the Benner Family cookbook.
Although not working full-time while raising her family, she did hold a few part-time positions after her children graduated from high school. Jo Ann worked as a phone representative for a local insurance company and followed this through the mid-1970’s as a sales clerk at Maternity Modes at Westgate Shopping Center, where her daughter was manager. Jo Ann would take the bus to the job while her daughter attended university classes in the morning. Jo Ann opened the store everyday for her daughter. At election time, Jo Ann was also a Republican Precinct Judge in the Washington Local School District for both primary and general elections. During all of this time, Jo Ann participated in a monthly pinochle card club composed of good friends and former work colleagues. Always enjoying her many prized collections - doll collecting, especially Madam Alexander dolls and Shirley Temple dolls were her favorites. As a young woman, Jo Ann shared a collie dog with her brother James and could always give you a lecture on the differences of her beloved collies and Shetland Sheep dogs. After the loss of her pedigreed collie named “Timber,” she couldn’t bear to have another dog. Jo Ann enjoyed collecting valuable figurines such as Royal Doulton and porcelains from Lenox and all types of teapots.
Survivors include daughters, Joette Boyd-Randall of Sylvania and Nannette Boyd-Cory (Richard) of Mason, Ohio; granddaughters, Julia C. Cory of Tempe, Arizona and Jessica C. Cory of Mason; sister-in-law, Eleanor Benner of Sylvania; and countless nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews in Toledo and Michigan. Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, William and Augusta, first husband Edward Bossler and second husband, Donald Boyd; and all eleven of her brothers and sisters.
Visitation will be conducted at Reeb Funeral Home, Sylvania, OH on Saturday, December 22, 2018 from 12pm to 1pm where the service will begin at 1pm with Pastor Nate Tuff officiating. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jo Ann’s name can be made to Genacross Lutheran Services or Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
The family would like to thank nurse Chris, aides Cecilia and Alexis from the Landings of Oregon; and the entire staff of Genacross,Toledo Campus for their dedication, compassion and care of Jo Ann during the past year. We are especially grateful to nurse Laura and social worker Kathy from Hospice of Northwest Ohio for their care, guidance and many supportive phone calls. In addition, the family is grateful to the first responders from both Sylvania and the City of Oregon who always demonstrated professionalism and respect to both Don and Jo Ann during emergency 911 calls.