Joyce S. Poppaw

Joyce Sue Poppaw

Joyce Sue Poppaw, 76, of Hillsboro, Ohio, passed away peacefully on May 07, 2021. Her husband and children were all with her just before her passing and she was always surrounded by love throughout a lengthy illness. She was born to parents Arthur and Florence Stoner, in Dayton, Ohio.

Joyce was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She cherished her family and she devoted her life to her children's upbringing and well being. She continued this legacy, through the care and guidance of her many grandchildren over the years and her joy was palpable when a new addition to her ever growing family arrived. If you ever wanted to see joy personified, all you had to do was hand her a newborn grandbaby and take a look at her eyes! She was the ultimate Mom!

Mom loved to laugh and her laugh was infectious to anyone within earshot. If you heard it, you came to see what was happening, because she had a wonderful sense of humor and you were soon laughing right along with her. Throughout her life, Mom always kept up with her children's lives. She reveled and celebrated with them in all of their successes and cried along with them in times of trouble. She was a touchstone for many who knew her, particularly for her children. If you had a problem or needed help, Mom was always willing to lend an ear, and if possible, provide material support. She was also known to have a "Mamma Bear" side, which she showed on occasion, to ANYONE that dared try to hurt one of her kids or grand babies! She loved to crochet in earlier years and created many wonderful blankets that she lovingly shared with family or just anyone who needed one. She loved to play Euchre and many different board games with her family and was a master "Pillow/Blanket Fort" builder on those snowy days when her children were stuck at home from school. Mom could always turn the dreariest days into the most fun a kid could ever have! Her children have carried that sense of inventiveness, humor, and good naturedness into their adult lives, which is another tribute to her lasting legacy.

Joyce was a devout Christian and worked her entire life to instill Christian values in her children. She believed with all her heart that the teachings of Jesus were the guideposts by which we should all live and she strived her whole life to live up to those teachings. The family is comforted by the knowledge that she is now home, in the arms of her Lord and Saviour and reunited with her family who have been waiting for her in Heaven for a while now. She will always be in our hearts and we look forward to the day when we are all reunited and can laugh with her once again. Until then, during this season of grief, we are comforted by one of her favorite poems:

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."

Author Unknown


Joyce is survived by her husband of 58 years, Daniel Poppaw, and her six sons: Scott Poppaw (David Nielsen) of Round Rock, TX, Matthew Poppaw (Angie) of Hillsboro, OH, Todd Poppaw (Donna) of Cincinnati, OH, Andrew Poppaw of Hillsboro, OH, Brian Poppaw (Traci Montgomery) of Columbus, OH, Alan Poppaw (Jennifer Morter) of Waynesville, OH, and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. She is also survived by her two sisters, Grace Shaw of Kettering, Ohio and Rosemary Beatty of Kentucky.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur & Florence Stoner, her sister, Laurice Stoner, and her brothers Larry and Jack Stoner.

The family has entrusted Newcomer Funeral Home with her final care. A Viewing and remembrance service, to be followed by a graveside service at New Burlington Cemetery, will be on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Viewing will be open to the public, from 10:00 am to Noon at Newcomer Funeral Home, 820 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd. Dayton, Ohio, 45459. "The State of Ohio is under a mandatory mask order and has required that face mask will be worn in all public places." A reception will follow at Cowan Lake State Park. (Details will be provided at the service.)

Flowers may be sent to the funeral home in her name, or, if you prefer, a donation in her name to your favorite local children's charity or to a local dementia care organization would be greatly appreciated by the family.

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