Betty Lee (Zongker) Wilde, 97, of Bellefontaine, passed away peacefully Monday evening January 31, 2022. She was residing at Belle Springs, in Bellefontaine.
Betty was born April 11, 1924 in Tulsa OK to the late Cleyon Zongker and Irma Doughty Zongker.
Betty graduated from Pascal High School in Fort Worth TX in 1942. She managed the Martha Washington Candy Store where she met a handsome Marine, R.A. “Dutch” Wilde, who came in every week for a chocolate malted milkshake. Betty and Dutch married on October 29, 1943 at Cherry Point NC at the Marine Air Base where he was stationed. They later divorced, but remained lifelong friends until his death in 2002.
When she was younger she enjoyed playing tennis, dancing, and sewing. She also was an avid reader, and loved cooking and baking for others. Betty loved taking care of stray cats, and loved her dogs Zsa Zsa, Chi Chi, Que Que, and her cat Tiffany. Betty was a devoted mother, grandmother, and Nana to her great-grand children. Her sense of humor and spunky personality will live on in her family’s hearts for a long time to come!
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, sister Bonnie (Jerry) Box, brothers Carroll (Geatrice) Zongker, John Wildey (Wen) Zongker. Niece Sandy Box Cheney, granddaughter Kelly Sue Linkinhoker, and friends Ruthanne Kinney, Maggie Miller, Jane Riddle, and dear friend Marilyn McCoy from Campbell Place.
Betty is survived by son Ron Wilde of Columbus OH, daughters Cheri (Bob) Cooper of Bellefontaine OH and Tess (Mike) Linkinhoker of Hilliard OH. Grandchildren Seth (Jessica) Wilde of Seattle WA, Courtney Wilde of Oakland CA, Nate (Erin) Cooper of Mount Juliet TN, Erin Cooper of Bellefontaine OH, John Linkinhoker of West Jefferson OH, Casey Linkinhoker of Galloway OH, Mandy (Marcus) Hayes of Montgomery TX, and Micky Linkinhoker of Columbus OH. Great grandchildren Everett and Wesley Cooper, Emma and Rylee Crabtree, Hadley and Piper Linkinhoker, and Sarai, Amaya, and Naomi Hayes. Also, her dear friend Holly VanBuskirk, and roommate at Belle Springs Teresa Cold Iron.
Family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Campbell Place, Belle Springs and Interim Hospice for their great care of Betty!
Per her wishes, Betty donated her body to medical science at Wright State University, so family will hold a Celebration of Life at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to a few of her favorite charities: Wounded Warrior Project, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or the ASPCA.