Betty Jean Heath, 85, of Bellefontaine, passed away on January 21, 2022, at Campbell House.
Betty was born in New Moorefield, OH, on Sept. 29, 1936, to the late Paul and Florence (Pitt) Hamm. She married Ronald H. Heath on March 10, 1957, in Middleburg, OH. He preceded her in death on Dec. 30, 2011. Betty was preceded in death by sister Ruth Latimer, and brother Pete Hamm.
A 1954 graduate of Zanesfield HS, Betty lived a joyous life. At the age of 18, she left her humble Pickrelltown home to work for her cousin in West Jefferson. At 21, she returned home and met Ron at a local square dance, where he chose her above all others. Soon, the two married. Together, they built a life of love, adventure, cars, and kids. Their story included building a home (she hammered in the drywall nails); car trips to many states; a self-guided, round-trip excursion on a small cabin cruiser down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River, where they met many nice river dwellers and narrowly avoided being run over by a coal barge…lesson learned. In later years, the two left Ohio for Florida’s favorable climate. After Ron’s passing, Betty returned to LoCo, spending her final years at Campbell House with old friends from her youth and new ones made along the way. There, cards, puzzles, and socializing were a few of her favorite things.
Betty retired from Siemens [aka Bulldog], where she worked as a breaker-maker.
Betty is survived by her children: Don (Linh) Heath of Bellefontaine, Janet (Joe) Murphy of Middleburg, and Roy (Chelsea) Heath of Bellefontaine; 9 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; siblings: Frank (Dee) Hamm of Bellefontaine, Paul Hamm of Zanesfield, Karen Sue (Richard) Duncan of Abingdon, VA, and Mary Jane (Robert) Smith of MI; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call on Thursday, January 27, from 4 to 6:30 pm at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Bellefontaine. A private service and burial in Middleburg Cemetery will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Campbell House, 356 Kent Dr. Bellefontaine, OH 43311.
Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Bellefontaine, is honored to serve the Heath family and encourages anyone to share a fond memory or message of condolence at www.edsfh.com.