Dorothy Betz

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Dorothy J. Betz
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio—Dorothy Jean “Cook” Betz, 84, died Sept. 4, 2009.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David Ross Betz, her parents, Ray and Audrey Cook, and her brothers Don, Ray Jr., and Herbert.
Dorothy was born in Buffalo, Ohio on Sept. 30, 1924.
Mrs. Betz was, until this year, a lifelong Ohioan, residing in Cuyahoga Falls for 55 years.
She was valedictorian of the Circleville High School Class of 1942 and received a BA from Capital University in 1946.
Dorothy was an avid reader, teacher, and believer in lifelong learning.
She started her teaching career in Bellevue, Ohio, and later taught in Springfield Township.
After raising a family, she returned to education with the Cuyahoga Falls City Schools in various teaching and administrative roles.
Upon retiring from the school system, she returned to academia as a senior guest student at Kent State University, taking classes in women’s studies, anthropology, creative writing, history and political science over a period of 20 years.
Her world view was formed by her encyclopedic knowledge of history as well as her own experiences during the Great Depression.
She always showed unwavering concern for the working class and for the impoverished and repressed peoples throughout the world.
She discovered like-minded people as a long time volunteer with the American Friends Service Committee of Northeast Ohio.
Happiness for her was a cup of coffee, a slice of cherry pie, a Sunday crossword puzzle, a good book and a televised political convention.
Survivors include her sister Mary Catlett; her children Randy (Barbara Mease) of Franklin, David (Catherine Mills) of Seattle, Wash. and Valerie Mechenbier (David) of Lakewood, Ohio; grandchildren David, Meghan, Patrick, Joseph, Lee, Jane, Rey, and great-grandson DJ; many nieces and nephews.
Please join the family for a celebration of her life to be held at 11 a.m. Sept. 26 at Bailey Road Christian Church, 3200 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Friends Service Committee-Northeast Ohio, 2101 Front St. Suite 111, Cuyahoga Falls OH 44221, or The Children’s Center, 700 Campbell Ave., Franklin, VA 23851.
Please share a memory with the family at www.rwbakerfh.com.