Joan Ronk Ashland, Ohio Obituary

Joan Ronk

Joan Ronk, 96<br><br>Joan Ronk, 96, of Ashland, died Friday evening, July 29, 2022.<br><br>She was born on January 19, 1926 in Bryan, Ohio. Joan was the daughter of the late Reverend Earl and Besse (nee Whitmore) Riddle.<br><br>Joan was a preacher’s kid and attended public schools in Waterloo, Iowa and Louisville, Ohio. She was a 1944 graduate of Louisville High School and furthered her education earning a bachelor's degree in music from Ashland College in 1948.<br><br>Joan would marry the love of her life, Dorman L. Ronk on June 24, 1949. With her husband and family, she served two years as a home missionary at Riverside Christian School in Lost Creek, Kentucky. They returned to Ashland in 1961.<br><br>Joan was appointed organist at Park Street Brethren Church in 1966 and continued until 2019. Along with her musical responsibilities, she proudly served in many capacities, but appreciated the most being named a deaconess in 1967.<br><br>Being a strong woman of faith, she accepted the Lord as her Savior at the age of 9. She was a devoted member of the Park Street Brethren Church and the Women’s Missionary Society. Her deep faith radiated joy which exhibited itself in caring and concern for others. She had a gift for words, whether writing, proof-reading, or creating loving name-based acrostics. She had a sharp wit which she shared with a twinkle in her eye. In her final years, she summarized her daily activities to her family as, “I sit and knit, sneak a snack, read a book, and take a nap.”<br><br>Joan was employed at Ashland College, now Ashland University from 1970 to 1996 in the dean’s and vice presidents’ offices and concluded as a grant proposal writer in development.<br><br>She is survived by her four children, Bruce (Sue Ellen) of Ashland, Nancy (Jeff) Lentz recently of Crofton, Maryland, Margaret (Donald) Matthews of Elmira, New York, and Joyce (Philip) Michael of Lanark, Illinois; ten grandchildren, Brian (Loree), Benjamin (Lizzy), and David (Sarah) Ronk, Justin (Leslie) and Elliott (Amy) Lentz, Kendra (Ray) Phillips, Amelia Matthews, Evelyn (Adam) Locke, Keturah and Josiah Michael; eighteen great grandchildren; a niece, Judith Gentle of Ashland; and several nieces and nephews out of state.<br><br>In addition to her parents, Joan is preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years, Dorman L. Ronk who passed away on March 19, 2013; two brothers, Dr. Jackson W. Riddle of Smyrna, Georgia; and Philip M. Riddle of Ashland, Ohio; a sister, Mary Cree Calhoun of Evans, Georgia; and two infant grandsons, Zechariah Robert and Jacob Lowell Michael.<br><br>Services will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at noon in the Park Street Brethren Church with Reverend Nate Bebout officiating. Friends may call prior to the service from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the church. Interment will be in the Ashland County Memorial Park. <br><br>In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Park Street Brethren Church, 619 Park Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805, or Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1021 Dauch Drive, Ashland, Ohio, 44805.<br><br>For those unable to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com.<br><br>Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.
January 19, 1926 - July 29, 202201/19/192607/29/2022
Share Obituary:

Share a memory

Add to your memory
Photos/Video
Candle
Mementos

Obituary

Joan Ronk, 96

Joan Ronk, 96, of Ashland, died Friday evening, July 29, 2022.

She was born on January 19, 1926 in Bryan, Ohio. Joan was the daughter of the late Reverend Earl and Besse (nee Whitmore) Riddle.

Joan was a preacher’s kid and attended public schools in Waterloo, Iowa and Louisville, Ohio. She was a 1944 graduate of Louisville High School and furthered her education earning a bachelor's degree in music from Ashland College in 1948.

Joan would marry the love of her life, Dorman L. Ronk on June 24, 1949. With her husband and family, she served two years as a home missionary at Riverside Christian School in Lost Creek, Kentucky. They returned to Ashland in 1961.

Joan was appointed organist at Park Street Brethren Church in 1966 and continued until 2019. Along with her musical responsibilities, she proudly served in many capacities, but appreciated the most being named a deaconess in 1967.

Being a strong woman of faith, she accepted the Lord as her Savior at the age of 9. She was a devoted member of the Park Street Brethren Church and the Women’s Missionary Society. Her deep faith radiated joy which exhibited itself in caring and concern for others. She had a gift for words, whether writing, proof-reading, or creating loving name-based acrostics. She had a sharp wit which she shared with a twinkle in her eye. In her final years, she summarized her daily activities to her family as, “I sit and knit, sneak a snack, read a book, and take a nap.”

Joan was employed at Ashland College, now Ashland University from 1970 to 1996 in the dean’s and vice presidents’ offices and concluded as a grant proposal writer in development.

She is survived by her four children, Bruce (Sue Ellen) of Ashland, Nancy (Jeff) Lentz recently of Crofton, Maryland, Margaret (Donald) Matthews of Elmira, New York, and Joyce (Philip) Michael of Lanark, Illinois; ten grandchildren, Brian (Loree), Benjamin (Lizzy), and David (Sarah) Ronk, Justin (Leslie) and Elliott (Amy) Lentz, Kendra (Ray) Phillips, Amelia Matthews, Evelyn (Adam) Locke, Keturah and Josiah Michael; eighteen great grandchildren; a niece, Judith Gentle of Ashland; and several nieces and nephews out of state.

In addition to her parents, Joan is preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years, Dorman L. Ronk who passed away on March 19, 2013; two brothers, Dr. Jackson W. Riddle of Smyrna, Georgia; and Philip M. Riddle of Ashland, Ohio; a sister, Mary Cree Calhoun of Evans, Georgia; and two infant grandsons, Zechariah Robert and Jacob Lowell Michael.

Services will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at noon in the Park Street Brethren Church with Reverend Nate Bebout officiating. Friends may call prior to the service from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the church. Interment will be in the Ashland County Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Park Street Brethren Church, 619 Park Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805, or Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1021 Dauch Drive, Ashland, Ohio, 44805.

For those unable to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com.

Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.

To plant a tree in memory of Joan Ronk, please visit our Tribute Store.

Events

Aug
20
First Visitation
Saturday, August 20 2022
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Park Street Brethren Church
619 Park Street
ashland, OH 44805
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail
Aug
20
Service
Saturday, August 20 2022
12:00 PM
Park Street Brethren Church
619 Park Street
ashland, OH 44805
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail