Betty Jane Wise

Betty grew up across the street from her husband, Arthur C. Wise, in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. They were married on May 1, 1955 during a Sunday morning worship service in Greencastle. They were married 66 years before Arthur passed away in January, 2022.

Arthur and Betty accepted an assignment to be a mission pastor couple in Tampa, Florida and relocated there in 1964. They lived there for 11 years serving the Ybor City Church which moved and became the North Tampa Mennonite Church. In 1975, they moved to Goshen, Indiana where Betty was employed as a school librarian. In 1979, they moved to Arcadia, Florida where she worked in a mental health facility as an Activities Director; she also served as the pastor’s wife for Pine Creek Chapel. In 1983, they moved to Sarasota, Florida where Betty worked at Sunnyside Nursing Home as the Activities Director for 21 years. She loved to quilt, crochet and read. She was in charge of Bahia Vista Mennonite Church’s sewing circle for many years. She loved her husband, children and grandchildren. Her ultimate priority was to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

She is survived by her children: Marie Stevens of Tampa, Elaine Kennell and her husband, Mark Jr, of Sarasota, Rachel Martin and her husband, Vincent, of Gastonia, North Carolina, and Sheldon Wise and his wife, Marci, of Naples, Florida; nine grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her siblings: Lois Elser Lenz, Naomi Horst, her brother, Abram Paul Martin, Jr. and his wife Dorothy, Mary Kennedy Lehman and her husband, Clifford; also a sister-in-law, Dorothy Wise.

Betty was predeceased by her husband, Arthur C. Wise, and her parents, Abram Paul Martin and Sarah Catherine (Etter) Martin.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday August 5, 2023 at Sunnyside Village Chapel, 5201 Bahia Vista St, Sarasota, FL 34232. Visitation at 9:00 a.m. with the service at 10a.m. The service will be live streamed for those unable to attend, please visit: sunnysidevillage.org then click on “pastoral care” then scroll down until you see the blue “watch live” box and click on it.

Those who wish to remember Betty in a special way, may make gifts in her memory to Lakewood Retreat, 25458 Dan Brown Hill Road, Brooksville, FL 34602 to help continue the Christian camp ministry she and Arthur helped start.