Bettie Lucile Barta

Bettie Lucile Barta JULY 7, 1925 – MARCH 4, 2021 Bettie Lucile Barta was born on July 7, 1925 in Danville, IN and passed away on March 4, 2021 and is under the care of Family Funeral Care-Rockville West. Her ashes were scattered with her husband, Louie E. Barta, in the Scattering Garden at Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, IN. Betty L. Long was born to Bert and Donna (Gray) Long in Danville, IN., on a hot morning in July. She was the fifth child born to the couple; eighteen months earlier Donna gave birth to Elizabeth (named for a maternal grandmother), who died a couples days afterwards. The couple decided to use the baby things from Elizabeth, but chose to use the standard nickname Betty for their fifth child. At age twelve, Betty changed the spelling of her name to “Bettie” as she started a singing career. Studying with Sue Carolyn, musician from “The Children’s Hour” radio program, Bettie Long soon started singing in public and private performances throughout Central Indiana. According to Bettie, most of the three years she was at George Washington High School were spent being excused from class to sing. As WWII ramped up events moved her to Detroit, Michigan, were she got gigs singing backup for other artists and jingles on live radio, supplemented by working the night shift at Briggs Manufacturing Company, now making airplanes. By the end of WWII, Bettie had met, fell in love, and married Louie E. Barta on Christmas Eve, 1945. Back in Indianapolis together they built three houses by taking money from the grocery budget and buying just that much lumber. Each house was a little larger than the last accommodating their latest baby’s arrival. In 1964 Bettie was fired from a job with city government after only three days, and stopped in at Unity Truth Center for counseling with Rev. Charles Roth. She left with a new job in the office, and as his assistant; she was already frequently the Sunday soloist. Over her 33 year career at Unity Truth Center she served as Sunday school teacher, Licensed Unity Teacher, soloist, conducting funerals, and eventually in 1987 an ordained and licensed Unity Minister. In the mid-1990s she retired to be home with her husband. After his death, she pioneered a new Unity Center on the Northside of Indianapolis, which was a teaching ministry for 15 years, including producing a weekly half-hour radio program. During this time she was active in the Unity movement on the regional and national levels, and attended the First Unity World Conference in Birmingham England. She also served on the board of the Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis, binging her to many community boards and consultancies, and supporting inter-faith initatives. Hundreds of weddings, christenings, memorial services, crisis and spiritual counseling brought Rev. Bettie Barta in touch with thousands of people, all touched in a special way. Her presence of peace and quiet wisdom based on a intuitive connection to Spirit calmed and healed many. Rev. Bettie Barta is survived by two of her children, Michael Dan and Patricia Susan, and two step-children, Louie Edward and Rose Mary (Leslie). Fond memories and condolences may be made at www.familyfuneralcareindy.com Bettie also has a facebook page and bettiebarta.com with additional information and remembrances.