Betty BIRCH-FARRELL Obituary

BIRCH-FARRELL Betty "Elizabeth Basham" Betty was born in Frankfort, IN, October 23, 1945. She was the youngest of four children born to Charles Schuyler Birch and Helen Leila neff Birch. Betty was loved by her oldest sister Harriett. She was often taken care of by her older sister, Geranda (Jeanie), and her only brother Bob who lived most of his life in California often hosted his sisters when they came for visits. She lived the first four years of her life moving to several cities in Ind. before moving to Toledo, OH, the city she called home for the rest of her life. Betty attended Birmingham, Garfield and Raymer Elementary Schools, where she met her life-long friends, Diane, Mary and Judy. She went on to Waite High School. Betty married Henry (Spike) Basham; three children were born of this marriage: Cindy, Jody and Jimmy. Betty had two grandchildren from Cindy, Amber and Amy and two grandchildren from Jody, Nick and Matthew, one great grand child from Amber and three from Amy. Betty was known by many names: Liz, Beth, Lizzy, Aunt Beaver, but the most important were Sissy and Aunt Betty. Betty worked for a short time at Jobst Institute before going to work as a cashier at Foodtown where her "people-person" personality helped her to excel at her job. After the divorce from Spike, she moved to Texas for a short period of time, always to return to Toledo. She lived with her sister Jean until she found an adorable Cape Cod home. She enjoyed being single, raising her three children on her own. This new stage of her life allowed her to meet many new people who became close friends. Her favorite pastime was lying in the sun at Catawba Beach. Although she couldn't swim, she enjoyed playing in the shallow water with her children. Betty loved dancing to country music; she met her second husband Bill Menzel at one of her favorite dancing clubs. Theirs was a tumultuous relationship lasting just seven years. After the divorce, she worked at various jobs, and finally ended up working at Toledo Optical. During this time, she met her third husband Don Farrell, while bowling. She was always looking for the "love of her life". This marriage moved her to Michigan then the opportunity to move to Florida when Don was transferred with his job at CSX Railroad. While living in Florida, Betty enjoyed decorating her newly built home, and of course, lying on the beach, working on her tan. She again started cashiering at Publix Groceries, where she was loved by customers as well as co-workers. Betty had that special something that everyone just fell in love with. Betty was drawn to older ladies, possibly due to the loss of her mother at the age of 32. April 6, of 1995 ended her world as she had known it. She suffered a massive heart-attack that left her with anoxia. The doctors gave her family no hope of recovery declaring her brain dead. The doctors told her husband that if she lived she would be a vegetable. However, the power of God thru prayer and faith proved them wrong. Betty with all her spunk and will to live pulled through after five months of in-house rehab at the Jacksonville Memorial Hospital she went home in good health. Then February 8th, 2000, Betty came back to Toledo to live with her sister, Jean, due to Don having brain cancer, and she herself not having anyone else to care for her. When Betty arrived at Jean's she was only 89 lbs and in poor health. Jean and her husband, Darrell, gave her around the clock care for ten months then she was able to move into her own apartment. Betty's nieces Diane and Brandy helped her with grocery shopping and attending Sunday School at Holland Free Methodist. She was involved in many activities including "Warm Hearts" a crocheting and knitting club. She had many friends of all ages at the church. Because of all that she learned about Jesus at HFM, Betty became a Born Again Christian. Betty was taken to CT by her grand daughter where she lived the last months of her life in a nursing home. She was looking forward to coming back to Toledo, but never got the chance. She went home to be with Jesus January 21, 2010. There will be a Christian Memorial Service held at her church, Holland Free Methodist Church, 6605 Angola Rd., Holland, OH, February 5, 2010, at 7:00 PM, Pastor Keith Simpson, officiating. All are welcome to come share their memories... good, bad or otherwise, lol (if you knew her, you know this is fitting).

Published by The Blade on Feb. 3, 2010.