Joyce Marilou Fast
After a long, self-directed life, Joyce Marilou Fast, age 86 of Orrville, died on Jan. 22, 2019.
Miss Fast was born Sept. 21, 1932, in Findlay to Daniel and Clara (Newton) Fast. Raised on the family farm in Wood County, she graduated from North Baltimore High School in 1950 and was a 1954 graduate of Bowling Green State University with degrees in health and physical education, English, and history. She later received a master’s degree in history from BGSU.
Miss Fast began her 41-year teaching career at Orrville High School in 1954, teaching physical education, English and history and went on to teach three generations of students. She took a leave of absence from 1958-60 to teach for the United States Army in Germany and from 1963-65 to serve in the Peace Corps in Cameroon. Because of her farming background and mechanical ability, the Peace Corps assigned her to community development.
Returning to OHS, she taught English and history, started the girls basketball team, coached cheerleaders, did stats for wrestling, and served as advisor for both the senior class and for OHS Publications. For many years she chaired the Orrville City Schools English Curriculum Committee, encouraging innovative ideas and opportunities for language-arts students. She was honored as the 1984-85 Orrville City Schools District Teacher of the Year and also was selected as a Jennings Scholar. Until her retirement in 1995, she served as the OHS representative to the Heartland Community Steering Committee. In retirement she was a respected volunteer at the OHS writing lab.
In 1995 Miss Fast was named Orrville’s Paul L. Powell Citizen of the Year for a life of service and for preparing high school students to become compassionate and discerning citizens. She served on the OrrViews Advisory Board from its inception. She was a member of Orrville Poetry Club, Tuesday Book Club and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wayne County.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Sharon Fast; and her brother-in-law, Chester Chambers.
She is survived by her sister, Donna (Chester) Chambers of Toledo; nephews and niece, Mark (Susan) Chambers, Nathan (Clara) Chambers, Brian (Deb) Chambers, Kevin (Susan) Chambers and Jocelyn (John) Blaufuss; and great-nieces and nephew, Leslie, Kristen (Steven), Briana, Erica, Olivia, Elinor, Fletcher, Jessica (Robert), Emily (Lee), Samantha (David), Audrey and Laura.
The family wishes to thank her live-in caregiver and companion, Cheryl Chuning, for her devotion and kindness, as well as assistants Mark Chuning and Melissa Hofacre.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Auble Funeral Home in Orrville is assisting the family with arrangements. Online registry and expressions of condolence may be made at the funeral home's website at www.aublefuneralhome.com.
Contributions may be made to the OHS Earth Science Club, 841 N. Ella St., Orrville, OH 44667, or to the Wayne County Community Foundation Joyce Fast Scholarship Fund, 517 N. Market St., Wooster, OH 44691.