Winona Hays

OAKWOOD - Winona Hays, 91, of Oakwood, passed away at 4:56 a.m. on Monday, February 19, 2024 at her residence. She was born November 18, 1932 in Paulding to the late Marjorie Eakins Evans Sickmiller and Clyde Evans. On September 27, 1951 she married Dick Hays. They were married for over 72 years until he preceded her in death on January 27, 2024.

Winona is survived by three children: Diane (Bruce) Erford of Oakwood, Steve (Cindy) Hays of Ft. Wayne, Laura (Hal) Hoover of Celina; five grandchildren: Matthew (Jill) Erford, Melanie (Ryan) Zolman, Jason (April) Hays, Nicole (Aaron) Capriglione, Stacey Hays; twelve great-grandchildren: Kyle, Carter, Tyler, Amelia, Kelebrant, Mandos, Nenya, Vilya, Edra-Jean, Willow, Sophia, and Evlynn; siblings: Janette Coplin, Jerry Sickmiller, DeWayne (Sharon) Evans, Judy (Dennis) Baker, John (Roberta) Sickmiller, and Joe Sickmiller; and a brother-in-law: Lee Baker.

She is also preceded in death by her stepfather: Eryl Sickmiller; and siblings: Donald Evans, Garnett Noble, and Marjane Baker; and brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Hubert Noble, Stanley Coplin, and Nancy Sickmiller.

Winona graduated as a registered nurse from Lima Memorial School of Nursing in 1953 and worked at Defiance Hospital. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Defiance College in 1971, taught junior high science, and was an instructor of practical nursing students at the Buckeye School of Nursing at Northwest State Community College, Archbold. For over sixty years she met monthly as part of the Friendly Neighbors Farm Bureau Council.

It brought Winona great joy to share the love of Christ with others. She was a choir director and teacher of children in Sunday school, Bible school, and after-school programs connected with the former Woodlawn/Cornerstone United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Auxiliary of The Gideons International and led a weekly Bible study for residents of the local County Home. For the last several years she was actively involved at Forever His Christian Ministries.

Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Bethel Christian Church, Arthur, Ohio with Pastor Chris Baker officiating.  Burial will follow in Prairie Chapel Cemetery, Oakwood. A visitation will be held on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Heitmeyer Funeral Home, Oakwood.

Memorial donations may be made to LifeWise-Paulding Exempted.

Condolences may be expressed at www.heitmeyerfuneralhome.com

LifeWise Paulding Exempted
PO Box 226, Paulding OH 45879
Web: http://www.lifewiseacademy.org/pauldingoh