Barbara Bettinger

Barbara ‘Barb’ Bettinger, age 90, of Coldwater, died on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at the Gardens of St. Henry. Barb  was born on September 25, 1933 in Ft. Recovery to the late George ‘Whitey’ & Salome (Harting) Zehringer. Upon graduating from Ft. Recovery High School, Barb attended the St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing in Dayton and became a registered nurse in 1954.

Barb married the love of her life, Bob Bettinger in 1955. She was the proud mother of 4 children: Karen, Chris, Susan and Brenda, 9 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Barb had a very diverse and successful nursing career working at Our Lady of Mercy in Coldwater, Jay County Hospital, and Otis Hospital. She also held a license to practice nursing in Wisconsin and Illinois. During her time in Illinois, she was an RN at a home for unwed mothers. Upon returning to Ohio, Barb worked at Briarwood Manor where she later became the Director of Nursing. She also worked as a peer review nurse for the state of Ohio. At the time of her retirement, Barb was a corporate nurse for HCF and travelled to all their nursing homes. She participated in writing the questions for the first State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) exam. She was a lifelong learner and kept her nursing license active until she was 84 years old. Barb was proud to watch 3 of her daughters and a granddaughter Emily follow in her footsteps to become registered nurses.

Barb loved her family more than anything. She spent many years travelling to all the grandkids’ school activities and sporting events with her husband, Bob. She loved to read and travel, especially to the beach and mountains with her family. She will be greatly missed.

Barb is survived by four children, Karen & Garry Gross of Tipp City, Chris Bettinger of Brookhaven, Georgia, Susan & Mark Lewis of Waynesville, and Brenda & Marshall McCarty of Bowling Green, nine grandchildren, Adam & Kristin Gross, Alison & Aaron Maggard, Emily & Greg Chaney, John Lewis, Katherine & Christian Ryan, Mark & Hillary Lewis, Nicholas McCarty, Justin McCarty & Jamie Szychowski, and Dylan McCarty & Sarah Dubreuil, eight great-grandchildren, Raegan Gross, Delaney Gross, Hadley Maggard, Willa Maggard, Samuel Maggard, Payton Chaney, Camden Ryan and Evelyn Ryan, in-laws, Grace Rutschilling of Coldwater, Carl & Ruth Bettinger of Coldwater, and Marlene Bettinger of Coldwater.

She was preceded in death by in-laws, Bud & Rita Bettinger, Serph & Clarina Lefeld, Paul & Angie Bettinger, Bob & Lucille Bergman, Paul Rutschilling, Clete & Margie Griesdorn, Clete & Norma Bettinger, and Lavern Bettinger.

She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 17 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater. Burial will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 PM to 7 PM on Friday, February 16, and from 9 AM to 10AM on Saturday. Memorial contributions may be made to EverHeart Hospice or the Coldwater Public Library. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com