Elizabeth J. Wendt

Elizabeth (Betty) Jean Wendt On December 2, 2011 Betty Wendt, 90, passed away peacefully at her son Charlie's home in Maumee. Born on September 26, 1921 in Weston, OH, she was raised on the family farm by her parents Charles and Olive (Stearns) Dickey. She graduated from Weston High School in 1939 and wanting to explore life off the farm, she attended Bowling Green State University and graduated in 1943 with a Bachelors Degree in Home Economics and Education. Her first position was a Home Economics teacher in Whitehouse Village School. After one year of teaching and fond memories of ice skating with fellow teachers and students, she decided to broaden her horizons and see the world. She joined the Army and ended up stationed in Des Moines, Iowa as a cook for two years. (So much for world travel)! After the war ended she returned to Ohio and took advantage of the GI Bill to attend Ohio State University. One weekend on a visit home she met up with her BGSU college roommate, Kate Webb, who re-introduced her to a cousin, Paul Wendt. Overcoming his embarrassment at forgetting his wallet on their first date, they were married in 1948 and lived happily for 38 years until his untimely death in 1986. During their married life Betty and Paul raised three children, Charlie of Maumee, Jeri, (Jerry O'Kenka), of Perrysburg and Craig, (Cheryl), of Elmore. Betty's career as a Home Economist began right after her marriage when she worked at the Edison Co. demonstrating the advantages of the "newly introduced" electric oven vs. wood-burning stoves. Later she was one of the first in the area to exhibit and sell microwave ovens. Betty also worked in the fabric department at the newly opened Lion Store at Southwyck Mall. She also, much to her children's dismay, was a substitute teacher in the Maumee School District all the while they attended school. Living on Craig Road in Maumee, Paul and Betty were the founding members of "The Craig Road Gang", a group of very close friends who spent their time canoeing, traveling, eating, drinking and laughing. Summers were spent raising Christmas trees and vacationing on their farm in Gaylord, Michigan. Betty was a very creative and fun loving person who sewed all of her own clothes and tailored Paul's suits. She was an avid morel mushrooms hunter, great cook and enjoyed watercolor and oil painting, golfing and bowling. In later years after moving to Elmore, she finally did get to travel the world with friends going to such places as Australia, England and Ireland. Betty is survived by her brother Bob Dickey, her three children and one grandson, Paul. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother, Tom Dickey. The past ten years of her life Betty suffered from Alzheimer's disease and was lovingly cared for the last five at home by her son, Charlie and daughter. Four days a week she attended Paul's Peers Respite Care at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Maumee. Without their care and devotion it would not have been possible for her to continue living at home and for that reason the family requests that all memorial contributions go to Paul's Peers Entertainment Fund, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 310 Elizabeth St., Maumee, OH 43537. A memorial service and luncheon to honor a life well lived will be on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at St. Paul's Trinity United Methodist Church, 340 Toledo St., Elmore, OH at 11:30 AM. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosserfuneralhome.com. Funeral Home: Crosser Funeral Home - Elmore-Genoa Chapel 19550 West State Route 51 Elmore, OH