Ruth Eileen Joy

Ruth Eileen Joy passed away Friday, Oct. 3, in Jacksonville, Fla., with her children at her bedside. A longtime resident of Sanibel Island and seasonal resident of New Haven/Middlebury with her late husband (Restaurant owner) Eben Joy, she had resided the past two years in Jacksonville, and earlier in Ft. Myers and New Philadelphia, Ohio. Born Feb. 10, 1921, in Cleveland, Ohio, Eileen graduated from Shaw High, attended Case Institute of Technology and worked as a nursing assistant at Huron Road Hospital in Cleveland prior to marrying Chuck Simmelink in 1942. While he served in the Army during World War II, she worked in various rationing offices. After his return from service overseas, they lived in the Cleveland area, rearing two children. In 1977, she married Eben Joy, former owner of the Dog Team Restaurant and longtime Middlebury resident. They travelled throughout the world for many years and enjoyed retirement while living winters on Sanibel Island, Florida and summers in the New Haven/Middlebury area until the Dog Team was sold in 1984. Throughout her life, she was known for her outgoing personality and love of music, singing and playing the piano. She also was a member of the Ohio Order of Eastern Star and enjoyed church affiliations wherever she lived. She was often found working on either her crochet or needlepoint, some of her projects including a large collection of footstools. Preceding her in death were her parents, Clarence and Florence McNamara Berkey; a sister and two brothers; and both of her husbands. Survivors include her daughter, Mimi (Steve) Tischbein of Jacksonville; her son, Tom (Jill) Simmelink of New Philadelphia; four grandchildren, Ty (Jennifer) Simmelink of Dover, Ohio, Jennifer (Walter) Rodgers of Norfolk, Va., Ryan Thompson of Denver and Dan Thompson of Jacksonville; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial donations are suggested to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Hospice of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, or Big Arts-Periwinkle of Sanibel Island. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin 3:00 pm. According to her wishes following cremation, her ashes and Eben’s ashes will be scattered at Sanibel.