Beatrice Emilene Diehl

Beatrice Swift Diehl was born on September 28, 1916, in Canada and raised in Buffalo, New York. In 1941, she married the love of her life, Leo Diehl. On their honeymoon, the newlyweds moved to Columbus, Ohio, so Leo could begin his career as a supervisor at Curtiss-Wright, now Boeing. Columbus would remain Beatrice’s home for the rest of her remarkable life.

Beatrice passed away on December 27, 2025. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Leo Diehl, and her beloved daughter, Beverly Mikaelian.

She is survived by her children, Carol (John) Connor, Michael Diehl, and Janet Robinson. She also leaves behind a large and loving family of nine grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren—one of whom proudly bears her name, Blaire Beatrice.

Beatrice lived life with enthusiasm, curiosity, and joy. She was a passionate Cincinnati Reds fan during the Big Red Machine era, faithfully watching games, keeping detailed stats, and recording play-by-play notes on her notepad. Her love of baseball was reignited years later when her great-grandchildren began playing; she could often be found sitting behind home plate, frozen water bottle in hand, cheering them on.

She enjoyed playing golf and bowling and was an avid reader who frequented local libraries. Her favorite author was Debbie Macomber, who made Beatrice’s 100th birthday even more special by sending her a birthday card. Beatrice loved decorating for the holidays, spending time with friends and family, and challenging anyone brave enough to play word games—especially Scrabble, where she was a true champion. She especially enjoyed sitting outside in the sunshine, no matter the temperature, soaking in the world around her.

Always up for an adventure, Beatrice appeared on The Price Is Right and made it all the way to Contestants’ Row. She had a warm heart, a wonderful smile, and an infectious giggle that stayed with her throughout her life. At age 100, she even received a pacemaker, proving once again that she wasn’t slowing down.

From 1999 until 2021, Beatrice lived independently in her apartment, where she enjoyed her morning coffee while feeding the ducks on her back patio overlooking the pond. Her great-grandchildren loved fishing there, creating memories that will be treasured forever. At age 104, she moved to The Inn at Summit Trail, where she earned the nickname “Queen Bee”. Five years later, she was still going strong—an Energizer Bunny who just kept going, going, going.

Beatrice’s life was one of love, resilience, laughter, and family. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who were lucky enough to know her.

Family and friends may call from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026 at KAUBER-FRALEY FUNERAL HOME, 289 S. Main St., Pataskala, OH 43062. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home with Pastor Bret Rizzo officiating. Interment will take place at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Lockbourne, OH.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the MJB Foundation or Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation