Bonnie Joy Roush

BONNIE JOY ROUSH

Joy Roush, 98, passed away peacefully under the care of Hospice at Otterbein SeniorLife in Cridersville, Ohio on Monday, September 14, 2026, leaving a lifetime of love, kindness and enduring friendships.

Born on April 10, 1928, in Lima, Ohio, she was the daughter of Arlie V. First and Bonnie Bernice "Babe" (Clemmons) First. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Arlie Jack First; and her beloved husband, Dale Roush.

A 1946 graduate of Lima South High School, Joy met Dale during their junior year. Their first date was the Junior-Senior Prom, and they continued dating through graduation before marrying on June 22, 1947, in Lima. Their marriage lasted more than 72 years until Dale's passing on January 17, 2020.

Joy is survived by her son, David (Nancy) Roush of Albion, Michigan, and her daughter, Deborah (Richard) Southall of Elgin, South Carolina. She was a devoted grandmother to Alison (Stephen) Sanger of Oakland, California; Daniel (Laura Scholl) Roush of Oak Park, Illinois; Sally (Mike) Dixon of Helena, Alabama; and Joe LeGrande of Knoxville, Tennessee. She was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren: Jack Henderson, Abigail LeGrande, Amelia Sanger, Audrey Sanger, Graham Sanger, Sarah Allen, Gabe Roush, and Greta Roush. Joy dearly loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and took great pleasure in creating handmade gifts for them.

Her first job was with Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (BLH) Corporation. She later worked in the cafeterias of Lima City Schools before beginning a career with National Cash Register (NCR) in 1965. Joy often said NCR was a wonderful place to work, and she valued the friendships she formed there. She and Dale retired together on January 1, 1985.

Following retirement, Joy volunteered in the Emergency Department at Lima Memorial Hospital, contributing more than 7,500 hours of service and earning Life Membership status. Dale and Joy shared a love of golf and spent many enjoyable years playing at Lost Creek Country Club.

Travel was another shared passion. They explored much of the United States in their van and made their first trip to Germany in 1985 to visit their daughter, who was living in Heidelberg. They fell in love with Germany, especially Birkenfeld, where the Roush family originated, and eventually made seven additional trips to Europe. One particularly memorable and frightening experience occurred on September 11, 2001, when they were flying across the Atlantic as news broke of the attacks on the World Trade Center.

For many winters, Joy and Dale spent several months in Fort Myers, Florida. One of Joy's proudest adventures was parasailing off Fort Myers Beach, surprising everyone who doubted she would do it. Always willing to try something new, she learned to downhill ski at Boyne Mountain, Michigan at age 56 and thoroughly enjoyed the sport.

Joy also loved knitting, quilting, and counted cross-stitch. Her home was filled with beautiful handmade creations, many of which she lovingly gifted to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends. She became especially well known for the knitted slippers she made for nearly everyone she knew.

Faith was an important part of Joy's life. She grew up attending South Side Christian Church and continued as a member throughout her life. Together, Joy and Dale served as deacons and were active members of the Friendly Couples Class. Joy especially enjoyed helping prepare meals for funeral dinners and cherished the friendships she made through the church.

Joy will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, unwavering faith, generosity, creativity, and deep love for family and friends. Her life was one of service, kindness, and joy, and she leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire all who knew and loved her.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers at Otterbein Cridersville SeniorLife Community; Jeanna McElroy, Senior Support Services; Aspire Home Health Care Services, especially Teresa and Buffy; Universal Hospice; and special friend Barb Kienitz.

Service date and times are pending and will be updated shortly.  Please disregard service information printed in Wednesday's Lima News.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to South Side Christian Church.

Arrangements handled by Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.