Joyce Marie Linn (née Ayers) of Ohio City, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family in her home on July 15, 2026, at the age of 92.

She was born on October 16, 1933, in Rockford, Ohio, 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 home-maker 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), as well as 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, OH

● Pamela (Ed) Garringer of Wapakoneta, OH

● Gary K. Linn of Vista, CA

● Rebecca (Rick) Boggs of Willshire, OH

● Jennifer (Dan) Linn of Willshire, OH

● Aaron (Krista) Linn of Springfield, OH

● Julie Mulvey Linn of Ohio City, OH

● Lisa (Steven) Welch of Fort Wayne, IN

● Kent Linn of Ohio City, OH

She is also survived by Conner (Elizabeth) Linn, Spencer Linn and ten other grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren, and her brother, Stanley Ayers of Van Wert, OH.

There will be visitation on Monday, July 20, from 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. at Cowan & Son Funeral Home of Van Wert, Ohio. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, Ohio.

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

Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded at cowanfuneralhome.com, Tribute Wall.