Joyce A. Bettinger

Joyce (Pankowski) Bettinger, age 90 passed away on March 7, 2022.

A native of Toledo, Joyce was born on April 4, 1931 to Stella (Bartnik) and Edmund Pankowski. She was a 1949 graduate of Whitney Vocational High School. Her entire career was spent working in the life insurance and financial services industry starting with Columbus Mutual and ending with Connecticut Mutual.

During her tenure at Connecticut Mutual she received the Blue Chip Quality Award for Field Support and Agency Administration in 1992. She was also a semi-finalist in 1992 for the David Prize for Creativity in Human Resource Management. Joyce retired from her position as Office Administrator with Connecticut Mutual in 1994. Her boundless energy and need to contribute kept her working part-time in administrative positions at St. Anthony Villa from 1994-97 and the following six years with Gould/Ruma & Associates.

She was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, a past officer and member of Lourdes University Auxiliary, Metroparks Toledo VIP, Toledo Botanical Gardens, and Sylvania Senior Center. She was an avid golfer and a life member at Highland Meadows where she was considered an accomplished “bagger of sand.”

Joyce was adept in planning and organizing which made her a natural born leader in a social setting, the business sector, and in volunteer organizations. A gourmet cook, she loved to entertain family and friends; her creative abilities were very much evidenced whenever hosting a party. Her enthusiasm for life was tremendous, and she encouraged others with her generous heart and energetic spirit—often referred to as the “Energizer Bunny.” She was always upbeat, friendly, intelligent and joyful with a sense of humor.

She was competitive in nature, which was obvious on the golf course, in sports, games and other areas of her life. She relished a competitive game of table tennis and could be found at the Sylvania Senior Center three times a week with a very special group of friends. In her not too quiet times, she was a voracious reader. Wherever Joyce was, there was light, love and laughter.

Joyce considered herself to have a truly blessed life and will be remembered lovingly for the incredible amount of encouragement she gave to her children and grandchildren.

Celebrating 67 years together in July 2021, she is survived by her loving husband Thomas Bettinger. Children: Dianne (Gary) Howerton of Seaside, FL; Douglas (Cheryl) Bettinger of Toledo, Dale (Debbie) Bettinger of Homer, AK; Amy (Phil) Lingle of Temperance, MI; and Jeanne (Michael) Masters of Medina, OH.

She loved all her grandchildren unconditionally and thoroughly enjoyed time with them. Her legacy remains with grandchildren: Benjamin Bettinger; Lauren (Howerton) Bailey and Tracey Howerton; Douglas II, Hannah, Blake and Emily Bettinger; Gregory, Kevin and Maureen Lingle; Sean and Samantha Masters. And two great grandchildren, Blair and Brooke Bailey.

Joyce was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and perseverance is how she managed recurring bouts of cancer. She was fortunate to be under the empathetic care of her oncologist Dr. Chang Zia, the exceptional nursing staff of the Hickman Center at Flower Hospital and her family doctor, Kelly Emch, MD.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Milton Pankowski, and sisters Adele Sobczak and Cynthia Dutched.

VIsitation will be from 3:00-6:00 PM on Friday, March 11th at Walker Funeral Home with prayer services at 5:30 PM . The family will receive visitors beginning at 9:00 AM at St. Joseph Church in Sylvania prior to the Mass of Resurrection to celebrate her life at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 12th. Followed by entombment at Toledo Memorial Park. Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy in Joyce’s memory are asked to consider Lourdes University
https://www.lourdes.edu/about-lourdes-2/university-leadership/institutional-advancement/make-a-donation/ and Metroparks Toledo https://metroparkstoledo.com/get-involved/donate/