Betty Jean Bauer
Betty Jean Bauer, 85, of Butler, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Butler, with Good Samaritan Hospice of Concordia.
Born July 19, 1936, in Baltimore, Md., she was the daughter of the late Ross Wadsworth and June Ghent.
Betty was a resident of Butler for over 65 years. She was employed as a tele-caregiver for Concordia Visiting Nurses, but she was known for being a librarian and her music.
She started as a librarian at Meridian United Presbyterian Church in the 1970s, and she sang in the choir with her husband, daughter and son. Betty then moved to the Community Alliance Church of Butler in the same capacity as a librarian and a member, where she also sang in the choir and was a handbell ringer with her husband and daughter for over 30 years.
Music was a large part of Betty's life. She absolutely loved singing and had a beautiful soprano voice. She and her husband, George, sang for many weddings, parties and funerals. They were also members of the ACTS Choir.
Betty was a music volunteer for over 30 years with Butler VA. She scheduled all the singers and musicians for Sunday service. Betty and her husband, George, sang and played the organ for many of the services.
Betty loved to volunteer her time to many organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Dunbar Center, Girl Scouts (on and off since 1967) and the Butler Poetry Group.
She was a member of a book club with her friends, which she enjoyed a lot. With her friends, Betty wrote two books. Her love for reading was always on display by the way she would take a 600-page novel and finish it in a few days. She just loved taking the journey.
Betty was a member of the Red Hat Society and loved her time with her friends. She was also a member of the Red Fans WoW.
Betty loved the game Scrabble. She played with her daughter, Lori, and her friends, and helped start the first Scrabble club in Butler. Betty played Scrabble by mail with many friends, and her husband, George, played postal chess. You could find them both in the evening with a cup of coffee at the table playing their games. She was also a card shark and really good at playing cards — such a sweet memory to have.
Betty and her love of God was present in her commitment to “Cap for Kids.” This was an organization that would knit and crochet caps and hats for children, and given to elementary schools, children's homes or wherever a child was in need.
Her greatest joy was spending time with her family.
She is survived by her loving daughter, Loretta Jean (Lori) Fry, and her husband, Kevin, who Betty adored and called him her “Coffee Boy,” of Butler; a son, Christopher Ross Bauer of Jacksonville, Fla.; three grandchildren, Joshua Fry and his wife, Amee, Jessica Moore Fry and her husband, Trevor, and Ryan Wable; four great-grandchildren, Lyllian Fry, and Adalyne, Kyler and Leland John Moore; two sisters, Alice Lee Rice of Richmond, Va., and Helen Jule Ann Paolucci and her husband, Joseph, of Maryland; two sisters-in-law, Lois and her husband, Larry Vincent, of Boones Mill, Va., and Jennie Ruth of Connellsville; and her nieces and nephews.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Harold George Bauer, who passed away in July of 2015; and a baby son, Timothy Karl Bauer.
BAUER — Family and friends of Betty Jean Bauer, who died Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler.
A memorial service will follow visitation at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Robert Thomas of Community Alliance Church officiating.
Burial will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Betty to the Community Alliance Church Library, 800 Mercer Road, Butler, PA 16001.
Online Condolences may be made at www.thompson-miller.com.
