Betty Lou Westenfelder

Betty Lou was born (at home) in Massillon, Ohio and was the only child of Paul and Joanna Stephonic. She lived a full and vibrant life until the day she passed peacefully at the age of 88 on February 12, 2023 at her home in Houston, Texas. Betty was an amazing “do-er” throughout her entire life and her final days were no exception. She she lived with gusto and vigor right up to her final moments.

Her childhood dream had been to study medicine and become an R.N. Although life and circumstances took her in other directions, Betty studied medicine as she could afford and was able to became an L.P.N. Throughout her life and variety of careers, she found ways to stay involved in various forms of nursing, care-giving and service to those around her.

After graduation, she married her High School sweetheart, Robert S. Fink and they moved to the base in Tampa, Florida for the Korean war and his military service. While in Florida, Betty gave birth to her son, Richard Paul Fink who was the absolute joy and center of her life. When Betty and Robert returned to Ohio, they both enjoyed music and acting and while working their jobs and raising young Richard, they started a community theater called the Ten-Star Theatre.

Betty was incredibly proud of her Grammy-Award winning son who distinguished himself with an international career as a dramatic baritone. A highlight of her life was to sit front-row center at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City to witness Richard’s official debut there in 1998.

In addition to her passion for medicine and nursing, Betty was also gifted with a keen appreciation for design and artistic beauty. This served her well in later years when she excelled as a property manager. In 1974, she relocated to Phoenix, Arizona where she and her second husband, David Westenfelder, lived and managed multi-family properties for the next 30 years.

A few years after Dave passed away, Betty made her final move in 2008 to be near her son’s family in Houston, Texas. Still working and active as ever in Houston, she worked for Encore and Home Instead, two companies that did senior care and while there was recognized for her outstanding achievements. Again, the dynamic energy of Betty Lou kept her actively employed throughout her 70’s and well into her 80’s. The reality was that she’d often be working as a caregiver for a senior who was in fact, younger than she was, but because she always looked great, dressed beautifully and never lost her natural dark brown hair, her patients never suspected her actual age. Betty had the capacity to combine practical needs for her clients with the thoughtful, little things that brought them joy.

es. She kept a lovely and immaculately clean home for herself and proudly served as the caring matriarch for all her neighbors on Bridle Spur, earning her reputation as a wonderful neighbor. On the final day of her life, she’d finished cleaning her home and had been preparing to attend the Contemplative Service at Chapelwood Methodist Church where she worshipped with her family and found fellowship and belonging.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents and both of her husbands. She is survived by her son, Richard Paul Fink, his wife Sharon Birkman and their three daughters, Margaret Jane Huber, Amy Shepley and Alexandra Killion. She is also survived by their husbands Mark Huber, and Tyler Killion, and by her five great-grandchildren: Morgan, Declan, Emerson, Lyla and Henry. It was a source of great comfort and delight that all lived nearby in Houston.

Information from Earthman’s regarding visitation, etc. Betty was always a huge lover of dogs so in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to an animal shelter, the S.P.C.A or to Chapelwood United Methodist Church.