September 28, 1926-October 12, 2024
Betty J. Fagan, 98, joined her beloved husband, Virgil (Bud) D. Fagan in Heaven, on October 12, 2024. Betty was born on September 28, 1926, and adopted at age two by her uncle and aunt, Paul and Gladys Karrick. She graduated from Findlay High School in 1944. She worked at Garwood Industries where she met Bud, and later at RCA Industries and Cooper Rubber Company. In her thirties she earned her B.A. in elementary education from Findlay College (now University of Findlay) and her M.A. in special education from Bowling Green State University. She taught 18 years as an elementary and special education teacher in Findlay City Schools until her retirement in 1987.
Betty and Bud were married twice in 1946. Betty was 20 years old, but Bud was only 18 and needed his mother’s permission to marry. Instead of waiting they eloped to Covington, KY. Betty was a dutiful daughter, so she left a note telling her parents where they had gone and why. They were married on October 5 by a Justice of the Peace and headed straight back home. They were met by Betty’s parents who ordered Bud to go home and wait until they could be married by the pastor the following week, October 12. The joke with their children was that if they ever divorced, they’d have to do it twice!
Betty and Bud were faithful members of the Findlay First Church of the Nazarene, Betty was a charter member. Over the years they participated in and were instrumental in all aspects of the church from financial committee, choir, church school programs, church board, and worship. They led by example to their children by attending every time the church doors were open including every night of a two-week revival. The family even attended Sunday church while traveling and on vacation. Often seeking out small country churches, Betty was called on to play the piano or organ for the service and, with their family of six, many times doubled the congregation.
One of their shared hobbies was camping and traveling. Betty and Bud put thousands of miles on their Avion trailer and other RVs in their retirement years and spent many winters in either Florida, Texas, or Arizona. Some of the fondest memories of the family of six, though, was their 1966 trip to California in a 16-foot Beemer travel trailer that had no AC or bathroom facilities and was pulled by an un-airconditioned sedan. One can only imagine the adventure that was with four kids ages 12-17!
Betty was always young at heart and many who met her, even at 98, could not believe her energy and sharp mind. After Bud’s passing, at age 90, she moved into a tiny house near her son, Matt, east of Bowling Green, OH where she lived for four years. She loved her independence and wanted more socialization so at age 95, she moved to Waterford at Levis Commons Independent Living in Perrysburg, OH where she became the social butterfly of the dining hall. At age 96, she moved to Beaverdale Estates Independent Living in Des Moines, Iowa to be one mile from her daughter, Patsy. There she enjoyed playing in the weekly Beanbag Baseball games (she was known as Batter-Up Betty), introduced and played a weekly cutthroat UNO game with her friends, and enjoyed twice monthly BOCCE ball games. She was known for her quick wit, sharp retorts, and her dining room table was envied by others for the fits of laughter often created by something she was saying or doing.
Her daughter, Patsy, kept close to her and was often thought to be either on staff or a resident but Betty enjoyed knowing that she was close by and able to be with her at a minute's notice. Her children kept in touch with phone calls. She was a blessing to all and will be “muchly” missed by her family and friends.
Betty and Bud were inseparable until Bud’s death in 2016. He died on their 70th anniversary, October 12 – and Betty died on October 12, 2024. Betty is survived by three of her four children: Janice (Bob) Wilton, Patsy (Steve Vaught) Fagan, and Matthew (Carolyn) Fagan.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her son, Virgil D. Fagan, Jr., her brother, and her parents. She has nine grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and numerous great-great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held for her friends at Beaverdale Estates Independent Living in October; internment in Findlay will be scheduled at a later date.
