JoAnn “Woody” Hoge, age 95 of New Knoxville, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital. 

She was born on April 14, 1929, in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Robert and Louise (Barnhart) Heywood. She married her husband John H. Hoge on January 16, 1953, in Columbus. John died November 5, 2024.

She is survived by three children: Jann (Oliver Dudley) Hoge of Southfield, Michigan, Jill McClure of Royal Oak, Michigan, and Jack (Rebecca) Hoge of New Knoxville. She is also survived by four grandchildren: John (Molly) McClure, Darrell (Sara Umlauf) McClure, Krista (Lanny Almon) McClure, and Meta Hoge; and by seven great-grandchildren: Aliyah Jordan MaShe y, Carnieche McClure, Giselle McClure, Eli McClure, Nova McClure, Bryant McClure, and Miriana McClure.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

Woody was a 1947 graduate of Grandview High School and a 1951 graduate of The Ohio State University, with a B.S. in Art Education. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She was active in the community with the New Knoxville Garden Club and with the New Knoxville Historical Society, of which she was also a past president. She also managed Adolph’s Restaurant and owned and operated the Jay’s Nest Antique Shop in New Knoxville. 

She was among the first troop leaders for the Girl Scouts in New Knoxville. She eventually served in a leadership role with the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio Appleseed Ridge Regional Office. She also served as an American Red Cross First Aid instructor. 

Woody had many interests, including history, nature, gardening, cooking, drawing, painting, sculpture, and photography. One of her photographs earned first prize at the Ohio State Fair. She loved art and architecture and conceptualized and designed the unique family home.

She was interested in genealogy and family lineage in later years, and her research led her and John to visit many familial communities. They loved to travel and visited many places across the country and abroad, but nothing compared to going to “The Shoe” to watch Buckeye football.

Funeral rites for Woody and John will be held 10:30 A.M. Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the First Church of New Knoxville, the Reverend Joel Bucklin, officiant.

Friends may call from 9:00 A.M. until the time of services on Saturday at the church where memorial donations may be given to either the New Knoxville Historical Society or Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.

Vornholt-Miller Funeral Home, 200 West Spring Street, New Knoxville, is entrusted with John and Woody’s funeral arrangements. Memories and condolences may be sent to their family via Millerfuneralhomes.net