Betty M. Foulk

Betty Mae Foulk, 99, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at her home under the care of her family and friends.

Betty was born on August 31, 1923, the only child to Grace and Claude Watters. She grew up in the small northeastern town of Ravenna, Ohio, graduating from Ravenna High School. Betty left home to attend Kent State University in an era where few men and women attended college because the world was at war.

After completing her freshman year at Kent State, a patriotic Betty joined the war effort by working as a chemist at Goodyear Tire in Akron, Ohio. She was proud to say her job at Goodyear helped keep the military vehicles equipped with tires.

She returned to college the following year as a sophomore at Ohio Northern University majoring in Physical Education. There she immersed herself in the typical life of a college coed, particularly enjoying the activities and events of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. She developed many lifelong friendships with her sorority sisters with whom she would stay in close contact her whole life.

While attending Ohio Northern, Betty also met a particular gentleman by the name of William ‘Bill’ Foulk. Although they knew each other, they never dated while in school.

It would not be until a few years after graduation that they would reconnect in Kent, Ohio where Betty was teaching Phys Ed at the local elementary school, and Bill was working as a pharmacist for his uncle Bob at Bob’s pharmacy. Betty would often frequent the local pharmacy lunch counter, and soon this old acquaintance turned from friendship to love.

When Bill proposed, Betty never dreamed they’d return to Bill’s hometown of Bucyrus, Ohio where Bill would go into business with his father at Foulk’s Rexall, but Betty came to adore the small town and all the wonderful friends and neighbors she made there. She found herself spending the next 75 years of her life hosting and attending countless dinner parties, Bridge, Euchre, and Pinochle clubs, and participating in various sports; bowling, tennis, golf, swimming, ping pong, and downhill skiing.

Upon returning from their honeymoon in early September of 1948, with no teaching jobs available, Betty began working at Dr. Dan Arnold’s office as a medical assistant where she stayed until the birth of her first son, Stephen, in 1951. Betty and Bill quickly grew their family, adding two more children: David and Susan.

Through the years Betty participated in many of her childrens’ school activities, acting as den mother and Brownie leader. Betty was a frequent substitute teacher in the Bucyrus City Schools when her children were students there. Upon the graduations of her three children, she resumed her career as a Family Living teacher at Bucyrus High School where many students fondly remember her as their favorite.

A lover of water, Betty also taught lifesaving and swimming lessons at Aumiller Park and the YMCA. The family spent many memorable weekends boating at Lake Erie. Betty loved to pick fresh peaches, strawberries, and corn on the drive up Route 4 to the Lake.

She was a dedicated wife and mother, making sure Bill had a hot, delicious meal delivered to him every night at the family pharmacy for nearly 50 years.

Never a day went by that Betty didn’t have plans of places to go and people to see, and she lived by the mantra, ‘keep moving’. Betty was a true adventurer and loved ‘peppy’ people.

This adventurous nature took her on travels to many countries including Germany, Italy, Ireland, England, Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, Scottland, Whales, France, Russia, India, Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, Greece, Turkey, Kenya, South Africa, Tahiti, Iceland, Canada, and all 50 states including Alaska and Hawaii. In 1969, she chaperoned a group of her sons’ high school friends and other students from both Crawford and Wyandot counties on an unforgettable 3-week excursion across Europe. Over the years, she continued to host many foreign exchange teachers and students alike, and traveled to Italy where she taught English to Italian children.

Betty especially loved animals and wildlife, traveling to the Galapagos well into her 80’s to help send the turtles back to sea.

A lifelong learner, Betty read the latest books and attended the latest plays. She loved to partake in cuisine at the newest restaurants and kept up on the latest fashion, decorating, music trends, and technologies including her Apple Watch which she used to text and keep up with family and friends daily. Betty was nothing short of dynamic and embodied the art of living in the moment.

Betty will be remembered fondly as a wonderful grandmother and great-grandmother. ‘Grandma Betty’ exuberated energy, especially when spending time with her 7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She was always up for a game of golf, tennis, or ping pong and loved teaching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren the games Old Maid, Candy Land, Euchre, Up and Down the River, and Monopoly. Betty made a point of attending all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s special events, always remembering birthdays with cards, gifts, and angel food cakes with fresh strawberries or peaches. This summer would have marked her 100th birthday.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents and husband, William ‘Bill’ Foulk. Left to cherish her memory are sons, Stephen D. (Susan) of PA, and Dr. David W. (Jude) of Marion, daughter Susan L. Clouse of MI, honorary daughter German exchange student, Ulli Foltz Napoli, of Venegono Superiore (VA) Italy; grandchildren, Stephanie (Matthew) Hemmerick, Julie (Brian) Martin, David Matthew Foulk, Jessica Clouse, David Samuel Foulk, Justin (Ashley) Foulk, and Dr. Claudia (Drew) Mosley, great-grandchildren, Madeline and Simon Hemmerick, Harper Nelson, Sydney Martin, William, Jude, and Stephan Mosley, and Sutton and Noah Foulk, and her cherished friends and loving caretakers, Connie and Tim Musselman, and Lori and Tommy Starner.

In honor of her centenary, the family will be holding her service the weekend of her 100th birthday on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bucyrus. Family will receive friends from 1:30-2:25 pm and memorial service will begin at 2:30 pm followed by a procession to Oakwood Cemetery for her urn burial. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at the VFW Annex immediately following the burial.

Memorial contributions may be made to The World Wildlife Fund, Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, and The Nature Conservancy in care of Wise Funeral Home. Stories and photos are encouraged to be shared on her tribute wall.