Joel Harris

Joel B. Harris, 70, of Carey, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay.
On March 3, 1951, Joel was born in Findlay, the third of four children of the late John Wesley and Oma V. (Saul) Harris. He graduated from Cory-Rawson High School in the class of 1969. He furthered his education at the Ohio State University in Lima.
Shortly following graduation, Joel enlisted to serve his beloved country in the U.S. Air Force.
Upon his honorable discharge, Joel returned home to Findlay, where he worked several places, including being a painter for the Marathon Petroleum Company and a bus driver for Liberty-Benton Schools. Lastly, he worked as a rural mail carrier in Findlay for the U.S. Postal Service.
One fateful day while attending a singles meeting at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, Joel met his future bride, Donna Roynon, and from there the rest is history. They were married a few years later, on July 26, 1986. Together they moved to Carey in 1996, and they shared 35 loving years of marriage.
A man of faith, Joel was a very active member of Memorial United Methodist Church in Carey, where “there wasn’t much he didn’t do” for the church. He served as a lay leader, a song leader, ran the sound system, was a trustee and was the president of the administrative board council. He truly loved singing and playing the harmonica at the church and helped run the Carey Christian Assistance (CCA) program out of the church.
Growing up in the 1960’s, Joel loved the classic cars from that era. He started working on cars at an early age and was always working on one of the two ’64 Chevy Impalas he owned over the years. He also loved going to car shows, was formerly a member of the Classic Car Club and even put together countless model cars. He also enjoyed doing home improvements around his house.
Joel had an amazing ability to recall the memories from his life. He loved to share those stories and memories and had been working off and on on his own autobiography. He was often inspired to write about his life experiences.
The rock of the family, Joel was the one his family would call if they ever needed anything and he would gladly drive all over the United States for them, which he had done on many occasions. He also loved to tell jokes and was well known for his many puns.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Donna Harris; three daughters, Jennifer French, Emily (Eli) Darnall and Rachel (Peter) Kidwell; seven grandchildren, Alex and Kaitlyn French, Norah, Ezra and Rosie Darnall and Levi and Lilee Kidwell and one more on the way; three siblings, Jonella (Jack) Williams, Nadine (Gary) Wagner and Neal (Julie) Harris; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Including his parents, Joel was preceded in death by his former spouse, Kathy (Smith) Nitz.
His family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, at the Memorial United Methodist Church, Carey.  Services honoring his life will also be held there on Thursday at 2 p.m., with their cousin, the Rev. Cynthia Morrison, officiating.  Friends may again visit for an hour prior to his services.  Burial with military honors provided by the Carey Honor Guard will follow in Knollcrest Cemetery in Arcadia.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Memorial United Methodist Church and they may be sent to the care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.StombaughBatton.com.