Joan H. Searles

Joan H. Searles, age 87, of Sylvania, passed away Saturday, February 11, 2012 in Ebeid Hospice, Sylvania. She was born in Toledo on May 22, 1924 to Harlan and Henrietta Hickenlooper. Joan lived a life of support for good causes, fulfilling the role of world citizen, her home open to international students and those from abroad exploring our culture. She responded to requests from Experiment in International Living, Toledo Sister Cities, SERVAS, Great Lakes Consortium, and others. Friends from over 20 countries enjoyed her hospitality. Always a peace advocate, she supported the Ohio Nuclear Freeze, and was a member of the Ohio U.C.C. Peace Task Force. She served on the Y.W.C.A. Peace Task Force and Public Policy Committee. In 1982, Joan and friend Emily Gleason were Y.W.C.A. delegates to the United Nations Special Session on Disarmament in New York City. They also joined in the 1987 March on Washington. Joan joined with other members of The Toledo Area Committee on Central America to participate in the 1996 and 1998 vigils in Fort Benning, GA. to speak for the closing of the School of the Americas. At the local level, Joan was liaison for Head Start programs in White Plains, NY and Sylvania. She was chair of the Sylvania United Church of Christ program to integrate refugees from Laos and tutor children from Vietnam. She served on the Board of Metro-Toledo Churches United. Joan served in the formative stages of what became the Sylvania Community Services Center, leading to our present Senior Center and Recreational Coalition. She was also Sylvanias representative to TMACOG bikeways, exploring these possibilities in their starting phases. Joan is survived by Bill, her husband of 68 years, and their five children sons, John and Jim Ailie, and daughters, Susan, Ann Rockway Rich Kalman and Laura Samir Dayal. The four grandchildren are Deven and Mira Dayal, and Sophie and Justin Searles. A memorial tribute to Joans life, for all who have been touched by her kindness, will be held at the First Unitarian Church, 3205 Glendale Ave, on Saturday, March 10, at 3:00 p.m. Tributes can be posted at walkerfuneral homes.com . Our suggestion for those wishing to make a charitable donation in Joans name are: PPSEAWA, Local Chapter, c/o Gretta Ullman, Treas. - 6708 Worth Ave., Sylvania, OH 43560, or a charity of the donors choice. The family thanks those extending their good wishes and support.