Violet May Brentlinger

Violet May Redlinger, age 84 of Toledo, Ohio went home to be with the Lord December 16, 2020 in her own home surrounded by her loving family. She was born September 24, 1936 to Gerald and Opal Redlinger in Ottawa Lake, Michigan. She graduated from Monroe High School in 1954, moved to Chicago and worked as a nanny for 3 years until she felt called to Christian work. She then attended Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University) but couldn’t afford to finish her degree. She then found a job at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital in Chicago and worked as a nurses’ aide, staying in Chicago on her own for 10 years. Violet met her future husband through a mutual friend and married the love of her life on March 27,1965. God blessed them with one child, Lois. Violet was employed by Toledo Public Schools as a school bus driver for nearly 30 years. She had many stories to tell about her years on the bus from delivering a baby to knife fights but she found her true heart’s passion driving disabled students. It was a physically challenging job but she grew close to some of her students and their families, visiting with them even after she retired. Violet showed her love of the Lord in many areas of her life. She enjoyed singing in the choir, especially the Musicales, at Emmanuel Baptist Church where she has been a member for 48 years. She also enjoyed hosting missionaries and pastors in her home. She had a wonderful sense of humor best seen during her church’s ladies’ retreats. She is best known for her letters of encouragement and testimony to those she felt needed it most. Violet made friends wherever she went and found it easy to talk to the stranger next to her on the bus. Violet’s great joy was spending time with her grandsons. She and Paul enjoyed taking them to COSI, the zoo or a playground a couple times a week and was always so proud of their accomplishments. She is survived by her loving husband, Paul; loving daughter, Lois (Toby) Vick; grandsons, Alexander and Andrew Vick; sister, Donyce (Russ) Jasmund; brothers, Roy (Lonna), David (Nancy), Daniel (Mary), and Fred (Judy) Redlinger. She was also preceded in death by sister, Bessie Redlinger; and niece, Robin Redlinger. Friends may call at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd.) on Friday, December 18, 2020 from 3-7 p.m. Additional visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of funeral services at 11:00 a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 4207 Laskey Rd. Toledo, OH 43623 with Pastor Bill Baker presiding. Facial coverings and social distancing are required at all events. Private interment will take place at Toledo Memorial Park. Memorial contributions are suggested to Emmanuel Baptist Church.