Betty J. Weitzel, 98, of Akron and Lebanon, PA, entered into the embrace of her Lord and Savior shortly after midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, from the WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital.
Betty was born in Belgrove, Lebanon County, on July 12, 1926, to the late Carrie V. Beck Snyder and the late B. Frank Snyder.
She was the loving wife of the late Richard H. Weitzel for 54 years until his death on Oct. 31, 2001.
Betty worked at RCA in Lancaster in component production for over 30 years before retiring in 1988. She attended Living Waters Chapel in Lebanon. The ravages of dementia could not dim her love for Jesus. Even after forgetting how to pray fluently, she was frequently heard saying, “Thank you, Jesus… Thank you, Father…” throughout the day. She will be remembered as a loving, generous woman with a servant’s heart, whose smile persisted until she lapsed into unconsciousness.
Betty is survived by her daughters, Fran M. Weitzel and Darla J. Weitzel, both of Wernersville; son, Richard L. Weitzel, husband of Donna Chapin Weitzel, of Lebanon; grandchildren, Deneen L. Gehr Wolfe, wife of Jason Wolfe, of Scott City, KS, Kathryn E. Rios Martin, wife of Ryan Martin, and Rudy Rios, husband of Courtney Smith Rios, all of Wernersville, Richard A. Weitzel, husband of Jennifer J. Leeper Weitzel, of Akron, Hans C. Weitzel, of Lewiston, NY, and Callie R. Weitzel Dawes, wife of Matthew Dawes, of Dunedin, New Zealand; 24 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her grandson, William (Billy) Michael Gehr.
A life celebration service will be held at Living Waters Chapel, 1900 Jay St., Lebanon, on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, at 11 a.m., preceded by a visitation starting at 10 a.m. A committal service will be held at the Fort Indiantown Gap Cemetery on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, at 9 a.m.
