Elizabeth (Betty) Lea Kiningham

Elizabeth (Betty) Lea Kiningham, 90, of Fort Wayne, passed away on Friday, September 10, 2021. She was born Geraldine Cartwright in Hidalgo County, Texas, on April 8, 1931 to the late Katherine Cartwright (of Kendall County, TX) and Grover Goodwin (of Nacogdoches County, TX). She was adopted by the late Julia Caldwell of Corpus Christi, Texas, and became Elizabeth (Betty) Lea Caldwell.

Betty graduated from Corpus Christi High School in 1948 and Trinity College San Antonio, Texas in 1952 with a Bachelors of Arts in Music. She taught band in Texas until she met her future husband Edward (Ed) Eugene Kiningham in Texas as he was finishing his Air Force commitment. Betty married Ed on November 2, 1956 in Corpus Christi, Texas and moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where Ed was employed by General Electric.

Betty had a great love for church music since a young age. Betty played organ and piano music for many churches. Betty became a follower of Christ, was very faithful reading the Bible and being part of a local church. Ed and Betty volunteered with the Red Cross for 10 years.

Betty is survived by her son Thomas Edward of Macon, Georgia; son David Allen (Mary) of Fort Wayne; son Paul Byron (Mary Ann) of Roanoke, Indiana; daughter Ann Elizabeth Phillips (Ricky) of Fulton, Missouri; and son John Michael (Rachel) of Houston, Texas. Preceding her in death are her husband Edward, her biological father and mother and her adoptive mother. She was blessed with 17 grandkids, Mary Beth (Chris) Wood, Jonathan, Julia (Jack) Giannini, Clay (Anna Belle), Daniel, Rachel (Dan) Schwartz, Kyle (Michelle), Alan (Leslie), Sarah (Greg) Johnson, Hannah, Martha (Trace) Shroyer, Grant, Nathan, Caleb, Seth, Ashley, and Levi; (11) great grandchildren, Jude, Owen, and Lyla Wood; Gloria, and Kyden Kiningham; Jayden, Tristan, Jordan, and Layla Schwartz; Winter, and River Kiningham.

A Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at North Park Community Church (7160 Flutter Road, Fort Wayne), with visitation prior to the service, starting at 10:30 AM; Pastor John Kiningham officiating. Betty will be buried in Lindenwood Cemetery on Monday September 20, 2021 at 9AM. Arrangements entrusted to Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, 6131 St. Joe Road, Fort Wayne.

Memorial contributions in Betty's honor may be made to Vertical Life Church in Cypress, Texas (John Kiningham, Pastor), Brookside Church Missions Group, Fort Wayne, or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for Betty's family may be shared at www.HockemeyerMillerFH.com