Barbara Joan Russell Dilley

BUCYRUS — Barbara Joan Russell Dilley, 85, of Bucyrus passed away Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, at home.
She was born in Tod Township on Feb. 6, 1934, to the late Carlan Boyd and Verda Gertrude (Fink) Russell. On Oct. 8, 1966, she married Karl Franklin Dilley, who preceded her in death in 2005 after 39 years of marriage.
Joan is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sara and Wes Crocker, Sebastian, Florida; her son, Jared, Alexandria, Virginia; grandsons, Payton, Gabriel and Greyson Crocker; a brother and sister-in-law, James and Ann Russell, Marion; a sister-in-law, Mary Russell, Bucyrus; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Richard and Marie Dilley, Westerville; and many dear nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, Janis (Pat) Carroll, Jeannette (Fred) Christman and Joyce (Dean) DeVore; a brother, Jack Russell; and sister-in-law, Mary Ellen (Robert) Lee.
Joan attended Eden Centralized School through fifth grade and later attended Bucyrus High School, graduating in 1952. She was a 1960 graduate of the Marion Beauty Academy and ran her own beauty salon for several years.
From 1957 to 1967, Joan worked at the Ohio Power Company. She was employed at United Telephone Company from 1968 to 1973.
Joan began her career at the Crawford County Board of Elections as a part-time clerk, rising to the post of deputy director in 1977. She was promoted to director in 1990, the position from which she retired in 1999. In 2000, she was elected to her first of three four-year terms on the board.
She was a devoted member of Woodlawn United Methodist Church (formerly Woodlawn Evangelical United Brethren Church), where she was recognized for more than 70 years of continuous membership. She sang in the choir for more than 50 years, taught Sunday school, and served on the administrative board and the worship committee. She especially enjoyed the fellowship of Woodlawn’s United Methodist Women group and had recently stepped down as president of that organization.
Joan was a charter member of the Order of the Rainbow for Girls Assembly No. 96 in Bucyrus, and for more than 50 years was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter No. 3.
She also was a member of the In-As-Much Circle of the International Order of The King’s Daughters and Sons, the Crawford County chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, and the Hannah Crawford chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also enjoyed planning and attending reunions of her high school graduating class through the years.
For decades, she served in leadership roles in the Crawford County Republican Party, helping with numerous political campaigns and activities. She was selected as the county’s Republican of the Year in 2002.
Family and friends will be received from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Munz Pirnstill Funeral Home, 215 N. Walnut St., Bucyrus. Pastor Sean McLeod will conduct the funeral service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Woodlawn United Methodist Church, 1675 Hopley Ave., Bucyrus. Burial will take place at Oakwood Cemetery following the service.
Memorial contributions may be made in Joan’s name to Woodlawn United Methodist Church, to the Community Foundation for Crawford County or to an organization of the donor’s choice.