Betty Woodruff

Betty Jean (Babe) Woodruff, 94, passed away Monday, November 9, 2020 at Van Wert Manor. She was born at home on December 12, 1925 in Van Wert, Ohio to Glenn and Clara (Spring) Bates.

Betty is survived by her children; David (Nancy) Woodruff of Morrow, Ohio, Marvin (Pat) Woodruff and Jack (Rebecca) Woodruff both of Van Wert and Brian (Karen) Woodruff of Chino Hills, California. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Rena Elizabeth Woodruff, who died at birth, twin sister to Jack.

Betty had four grandchildren; Rachel (Dewey) VanWynsberghe, Ben (Marie) Woodruff, Wayland Woodruff & Hailey Woodruff.

She had seven great-grandchildren; Natalie Humphrey, Kainegel Carl & Khrevien Lanze Pacleb, Zieka & Ezhekiel Woodruff and Una & Siska VanWynsberghe.

Babe is survived by sisters, Catherine Reichert & Margy Bates both of Van Wert. She was preceded in death by a sister, Judy Sargent and her brothers; Jack Bates who died in infancy, Richard Bates & Roger Bates.

Betty worked at Van Wert Manufacturing from 1958 to 1973 in the payroll department before moving to Ocala, Florida. She then moved to Decatur, Indiana, where she worked for Central Soya. She retired from Food Marketing and the Red Cross in Fort Wayne, Indiana where she was in charge of payroll.

She attended Horace Mann and graduated from Van Wert High School. She was a member of the Sunrise Club. She volunteered with TWIGS and the Hospital Thrift Shop for many years. Betty served with the Lady Board of Managers where she assisted as an excellent seamstress with clothing and linen repairs for patients and others in need until her eyesight began to fail and prevented her from continuing. Her memory, though, remained razor sharp, as did her hearing. She was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed sight-reading new pieces frequently. She was an avid reader and a crackerjack at crossword puzzles. Babe was so creative; crocheting, crafting and sewing left-handed, decades before Pinterest. Betty and her family would like to thank all the handsome Van Wert EMS Squads that always picked her up and made her smile.

Graveside services will be held at Woodland Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 20 followed by a meal at the VanWynsberghe Home at 16246 St. Rt. 116, Van Wert for all Babe's friends and family as we remember her laugh, her kind eyes and how she loved to tell jokes.

Condolences may be sent to alspachgearhart@gmail.com