Betty L. Forrester

Betty Forrester had a great sense of humor. Over the years she enjoyed countless encounters of picking on her husband Dick and her brother Mike. If you would get Betty laughing, there was no chance to stop her. Her legacy continues on as her children gave her the greatest gift of all. She adored all four of her grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren and was looking forward to the Fall of 2019 when she planned on welcoming her new great-grandson.

In 1932, most Americans were struggling as they entered the third year of the Great Depression. Ford produced the Model Y automobile for the Europe market, the first parking meter was developed, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and British Broadcasting Company (BBC) aired their first public television program. Families at the time gathered around their radios to listen to the popular first episodes of Little Orphan Annie and Buck Rogers of the 25th Century. On December 16, 1932, Russell and Mary (Pence) Schrader welcomed the birth of their daughter, Betty L. Schrader in Whitley County, Indiana.

She grew up in Columbia City and was active in her youth with the Whitley County 4-H. While attending Columbia City High School, Betty took a Biology class that would change her life forever. In that class was a young man by the name of Richard P. Forrester. Dick noticed Betty right away and eventually asked her to join him to root on their high school basketball team as they played away at North Manchester High School. The two would begin dating and following her graduation in May of 1950, she and Dick were married on Christmas Eve at Oak Grove Church of God, where she was a member at.

Soon after their marriage, Dick's military career moved them around, including Texas and Florida. While living in Florida, Betty had an infant son, David Richard Forrester, who was stillborn in 1954. Soon, they welcomed three more boys, Matthew, Mark and John Scott into their hearts and home. They made their way back to Columbia City in 1955 and moved to Auburn in 1966. For a year, they moved back to Florida in 1969 and finally returned home to Columbia City in 1970.

Aside from taking care of her family and raising her children, Betty also worked as a Claims Processor at Lincoln Life, retiring Dec. 31, 1992. As a grandmother, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and watching them to help her children out. A highlight of any week for her was having family over for Sunday dinners. Betty even got the opportunity to take all her grandchildren to Washington D.C. over the years.

Betty loved her dogs and raised many Dachshunds over the years. She found relaxation in doing jigsaw puzzles. She looked forward to her Class of 1950 Reunions and having lunch with her classmates each month. She and Dick took several bus trips, went on cruises, visited Hawaii, going to the Covered Bridge Festival and loved to antique shop.

On April 14, 2015, Betty lost the love of her life. The two had been together for 65 years. After a recent fall, Betty went to Miller's at Oak Pointe for rehabilitation and unexpectedly passed away at 7:15 a.m. Monday, August 19, 2019 at the age of 86. She is survived by her sons, Matthew (Andrea) Forrester, of Madison and Mark (Connie) Forrester, of Columbia City; brother, Michael (Cathy) Schrader, of Columbia City; brother-in-law, Chuck (Eunice) Forrester, of Columbia City; four grandchildren, Jennifer (Jimmy) Merkler, Rhiannon (Brad) Cormany, Andrew (Kendra) Forrester and Meghan (Brye) Welty; and seven great-grandchildren, Aaron Wilcoxson, Luke Wilcoxson, Lauren Wilcoxson, Cate Cormany, Charlotte Cormany, Clayton Cormany, Graham Welty and was expecting one more great-grandson this fall. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dick Forrester; son, John Scott Forrester; infant son, David Richard Forrester; and an infant brother, Stephen Russell Schrader.

A gathering of family and friends will be 4-7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 22, 2019 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with Pastor Steve Johnson of Oak Grove Church of God officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove (Compton) Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest beside Dick. Memorials may be given in her honor to Oak Grove Church of God or Bear Lake Camp. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send her family condolences online.