Janet Poling Ray

Janet Elaine (Sowers) Poling Ray, 92, of Troy and, formerly, of Van Wert entered heaven on May 28, 2018.  Janet was a homemaker, secretary with Eaton Corporation (Aeroquip), worked at the Van Wert Times-Bulletin newspaper, and also worked at the Continental Can Company as a young woman.  She was a devoted wife, loving mother, adoring grandma, supporting aunt, trophy-winning bowler, accomplished seamstress, and fun friend.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church while living in Van Wert and attended the First Baptist Church while living in Troy.

She was born October 5, 1925, to the late Lewis K. and Margaret Ethyl (Longanecker) Sowers of Convoy.  She graduated from Tully Convoy High School in 1943.  In 1945, she married James Vernell Poling of Hoaglin Township.  They were married for 39 years and had five sons, three of whom survive.  After the death of Vernell in 1984, she married Corwin “Doc” Ray of rural Convoy in 1986.  Mr. Ray had three sons from a previous marriage.  They were married for 29 years, until Corwin’s death in 2014.

She is survived by sons Dale Poling of Amelia, Ohio, Ronald (Diana) Poling of Troy, Richard (Mary) Poling of Sherwood, Arkansas, and Don (Julie) Ray of Centerville, Ohio; sister, Sue (Chalmer) Plumley of Fort Wayne, Indiana; brother, Robert (Pat) Sowers of Van Wert; eleven grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Janet was preceded in death by her two husbands; two infant sons, Harold and Gerald; two stepsons, Roger Ray of Elkhart, Indiana and Larry Ray of Findlay; three daughters-in-law, Mary Ray of Elkhart, Indiana, Cara Ray of Findlay and Alice Poling of Amelia, Ohio; and brothers Richard Sowers of Van Wert, Gordon Sowers of Convoy, Darrell Sowers of New Haven, Indiana, and John Sowers of Convoy.

Visitation will be held from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM on Thursday, May 31, 2018 at the Gearhart-Jurczyk Funeral Home, 655 North Main Street, Convoy, Ohio 45832 with the funeral service immediately following at 12:00 PM at the same location, followed by a graveside service at Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.  Pastors Jason Poling and Michael Rudolph, grandsons of the deceased, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Heartland Hospice of Miami Valley, 580 Lincoln Park Blvd., Suite 320, Kettering, OH 45429-3493 or First Baptist Church, 53 S Norwich Rd., Troy, OH 45373.

Arrangements are being handled by Gearhart-Jurczyk Funeral Home.  Online condolences may be expressed at:  www.alspachgearhart.com.