Betty Thompson Obituary

Betty L. Thompson

Feb 27, 1925 - Mar 3, 2023

Sandusky

Betty (Gurtz) Thompson, 98, of Sandusky, passed away Friday, March 3, 2023, at her home of 59 years, with Teresa, her daughter and caregiver, by her side. She was listening to her favorite song, "Time to Say Goodbye." How befitting.

Betty was born Feb. 27, 1925, in Castalia, the first daughter of Harold and Grace (Schwochow) Gurtz. Her father passed away when she was only 13.

She attended Margaretta Schools until 1941. She left school to work at Trojan Power Factory to help support her widowed mother and sibling, Irene, during the depression, as well as to support the war effort. From there, she went to work at Philco, where she was wooed by a guy named Joe, with a Hershey bar. And the rest is history.

She married Joseph E. Thompson on Aug. 6, 1946. He was a veteran in a division of U.S. Army/Air Force in World War II. They had four children, Frederick J., Thomas D., Timothy J., and Teresa A. Thompson. They were married for 55 years until his passing in 2001.

In 1964, they built a new home in Perkins Township where she resided for the next 59 years. Following a successful removal of a brain tumor at age 90, she rehabbed and then went into an assisted living facility and hated every minute of it. She was able to return home with the help of her daughter as well as an occasional aide and ongoing therapy.

After raising her family, Betty went back to work in 1966 at Sears Roebuck in catalog sales. She retired after 26 years as head of telephone sales in 1992.

Betty never had a driver's license. Joe drove her everywhere until he was diagnosed with macular degeneration. Betty obtained her first license in 1998 at age 73.

Another milestone for Betty came after Joe's passing. It was divine intervention at his funeral Mass. She decided to become a Catholic and entered into RCIA or Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. With Linda Smith as her sponsor, she became a Catholic on the Easter Vigil of 2002.

She started another chapter, traveling with her daughter, Teresa. Although she never flew in a plane, there were cars, ferries, busses, and trains involved. Her favorite was Mackinac Island.

Basketball was always a passion of hers. It began watching her son Fred play center at St. Mary's in 1966, going 23-1. She was heartbroken when they didn't make the finals. Then she was a Cleveland Cavaliers fan since their inception in 1970. With her second chance at life in 2015, she was able to "Witness" the 2016 NBA championship from her couch.

Another interest was flower gardening, in particular, roses. She had several beds until a deep freeze destroyed them. She resorted to annuals and then perennials, but always had her flowers. Her son, Tom, put a greenhouse in the backyard in 1969, carrying on the tradition.

Due to balance and other health issues, she was in and out of facilities, but she never gave up. She took up cornhole. It helped with her balance and made them keep score. She even got Cubii for home.

Her final accomplishment was getting her high school diploma at the age of 97. With the assistance of Margaretta Schools and the V.A., she was awarded her diploma, class of 1943.

Betty is survived by her sons, Frederick J. (Martha) and Thomas D. (Jean); daughter, Teresa A. Thompson; four grandsons, Lucas, Kevin (Brittany), Thomas (Erin Nichole), and Nathan (Rachel Whittaker) Thompson; two great-granddaughters, Teagan and Kniley Thompson; sisters, Rosemary McDowell and Martha Ebner; nephews, Leon Pitzer and Rob McDowell; niece, Jan Brothers; special neighbors, Annee and Andy; special friends, Dick Marko, Nancy Miller, John Rogers, Mary Rose Hayes, and Susan Missig; aides, Pam and Haley; and a host of others too many to mention.

In addition to her husband, Joseph, and son, Timothy (in infancy), she was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Chester J. Polta; sisters, Irene Pitzer and Marie Polta; brothers-in-law, Robert McDowell and David Ebner; and Joe's family.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Groff Funeral Home & Crematory, 1607 East Perkins Avenue, Sandusky. Prayers will be recited at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home Friday, March 10, 2023. Mass of Christian burial will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 429 Central Avenue, Sandusky, with the Rev. Jacob George officiating. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Sandusky.

Memorial contributions can be made at Fifth Third Bank, 2211 Hayes Avenue, in care of Teresa Thompson to be dispersed to Sandusky Parks for a bench and/or plaque in her honor.

Contributions may also be made to St. Mary's Church, Sandusky Central Catholic, or to the Athletic Association.