Dear family of Betty J. Strunk, 
    I was blessed to have become acquainted with Betty in the last few years by phone and letter.  It was my pleasure to have had a conversation with her last month. She surprised me with a 2013 Christmas card, and I will treasure that correspondence forever.  Her deceased husband, Dave, was a sibling of my Grandmother.  Betty was generous in sharing family history, of which she had carefully researched and attended. In last month's conversation she told me she believed she would not be around much longer.  Although I never got to meet her in person, I am thankful for the memories she has given me. 
    Family and friends of Betty, you are in my prayers.        
                                                                                              Sharon Gaddis

To  Wayne Strunk and Ben and the Lewis family our sincere sympathies.  We were all blessed by our having her in our family.  She was a wonderful aunt who was a blessing to me.  She always sent her information about the Strunk family history which was so valuable to those members who had lost family members when they were very young. 
She was so very proud of Wayne, I remember when he was born, a beautiful baby.
Thank you, Wayne for being there for your mother.  She loved  you so very much.  You made her happy.  I will always treasure my memories of Betty.  She was a blessing.
Judith Becker Snyder and family,  York, Penna.

Aunt Betty is responsible for me getting to know our every mail carrier for over 25 years!   I'd forever be watching for her next missive full of life.   She was the best letter writer and historian, though she'd occasionally get irked at me for asking her so many questions in my letters to her.   One thing I'll really miss about Betty?  Her sense of humor!   If you're asking yourself, "What sense of humor?"  Well, Mom (Mary)and I sometimes wondered if Betty got her own jokes, but she could be so funny.  Her wit always had an ironic bite to it, but witty it was.

   There was really only one subject that Betty refused to answer questions about...  Can any Betty lovers guess what that subject was.  Here's a clue:  Can anyone guess WHO that subject was?   It was that first husband of hers...  She had nothing to say about that guy.  I'm hoping, dear aunts and uncles, that you'll be willing and able to fill in some of the gaps about the two of them?

    Betty was also the family historian.  She worked tirelessly to gather family facts and photos.  I wonder just how many COTA bus rides she took during all those years she was scouring libraries for family records?  She published her own books of the Lewis and Schmidt family trees long before computers made that a doable task.  Sadly, Betty had no interest in learning to use a computer.  I say sadly only because I thought she would have received immense pleasure had she been able to continue her search for family facts.  But you know Betty: Once she had made up her mind she wasn't interested in computers, that was a done deal.

    In her tribute to Betty Jane, Mom wrote about our Memorial Day trips to Greenlawn, Mount Calvary and Sunset Cemeteries.  One year we had my then 4 year old grandson, Tyler, with us for the outing.  I'm afraid Aunt Betty's nerves were tested that trip.  Tyler acted just like a four year old... and so did I.  We played tag among the headstones.  Betty did not look happy.  Tyler and I were well-behaved when we had visited Grandma, Grandpa and little Billy at Sunset Cemetery.  Aunt Betty told Tyler some stories about growing up on the Demorest Road farm, then we moved on to a different "island" to look for Mildred and Charles Lewis (Grandpa's brother).  Well, the new island has some huge monuments on it, which fascinated Tyler.  As we were decorating Mildred's and Charles' graves, we heard Tyler whooping it up nearby.  Mom, Betty and I looked up to see a joyful Tyler dancing on top of a giant stone piano.  I expected to see disappointment on Aunt Betty's face as I glanced over at her, but, as was not unusual, she surprised me.  Aunt Betty had a big grin on her face... for just a moment.  She definitely didn't allow Tyler to see her laughing at him dancing on a stranger's grave... but she also did not chastise him in any way. Betty just said matter-of-factly, "Tyler, it's time to move on now." 

    I am so sorry that Betty has left us... but for my own selfish reasons.  Betty is where she has wanted to go for some time.  Life had grown physically painful for her poor old body, so I celebrate her freedom from pain.  The one thing that kept her happy in life was her love for and pride in her dear son, Wayne.  Wayne, you've been a fantastic son and please know that your mother was well aware of that fact, as is your entire extended family.  We love you!  

    
                                                                              Mary Anne Brown-Schwart

Aunt Betty has remained attached to our family ever since she became our Aunt thru marriage.  She has provided me with personally with help on my family genealogy that was priceless.  Her loving and thoughtful messages have added to the importance of life.  Having an Aunt Betty in our family has been a very special blessing from GOD.

I shall surely miss my big sister, the Lewis brothers and sisters' head - honcho since our mother and father died  A faithful letter writer, Betty kept us all informed  of our comings and goings. She had a deep love of family. Honest to a fault, Betty never hesitated to correct me when I erred in my recollections of events that occurred in my childhood. I quickly learned; don't argue with Betty. She's very smart and always right. She had a remarkably sharp memory

I shall  miss our visits to Meijer for groceries and prescriptions. I shall miss taking her for doctor and dental visit. And I shall certainly miss our Wendy's lunches. Whenever I took her anywhere Betty insisted upon treating me to lunch: Junior bacon cheeseburger or crispy chicken, French fries, shake for Betty, coffee for me. We would take them back to Betty's house where we would enjoy our lunch and a gab-fest 

 And I shall miss even our trips to Greenlawn, Mt Calvary and Sunset Cemeteries on Memorial Day where we placed  flowers on long-gone relatives' graves. This until Betty was too feeble to go. My daughter Mary Anne and I continue the practice to this day. 
 
I wish to thank Wayne for his dependable care of his mother, especially during the last two years when Betty had so many falls. It couldn't have been easy for him to make the recurring trips from work in Delaware County or from his home in Marion County to arrange for emergency hospital and nursing home admittance and visits. Good job, Wayne.

Rest in peace, Betty

I feel blessed for Betty to have been a part of my life and to be a wonderful grandma for our son Ben.  She was kind and generous, always concerned about our welfare.  I'm glad she lived the life she wanted with the people and things around her that were so important for her.

Wayne and Family - so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Kelly Kohl

God Bless/RIP,to ALL who served in WWII.The USA would NOT be as it is today.....       Thank YOU for your service...and    Semper Fi.

So sorry to read this news Wayne.  Sending prayers for you and your family.  Marilyn Jones

OBITUARY

Betty J. Strunk

29 August, 1919 – 4 January, 2014

Schoedinger Midtown

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