Betty Lou Dawald, 98, of rural Roann, Indiana, died at 7:45 pm, Monday, October 7, 2024, at her home. She was born on March 22, 1926, in northern Miami County, Indiana, to Walter and LuluBell (Morris) Conner.
Betty was a 1944 graduate of Gilead High School and married George Dawald, Jr. on February 29, 1948 in Indianapolis; he died August 5, 2008. During the next 20 plus years she was a secretary, farm wife, worked at Heckman’s Bindery and a nurse’s aide at Dukes and Wabash hospitals. While working as an aide she asked a lot of questions, so many that her colleagues told her she needed to go to nursing school. She did just that and was a 1971 graduate of the Marion College of Licensed Practical Nursing. During this stretch she was also a mom to two children, a talented seamstress and a volunteer at church for every children’s program and Ladies Aid group. An expert at a quick meal, she operated her “rolling restaurant” from the trunk of the car to feed “the men” working in the fields.
From 1971 to 1991 she worked at Wabash Hospital. It was during her stretch at the hospital that she found a new hobby and became an oil painter. She loved taking classes and painting with her group of fellow artists. This creative outlet is evidenced by all the family and friends who have an original painting from her. Betty loved history and was an avid reader. She loved gardening and all kinds of landscape design. Betty was a friend to all and a great story teller, which included a wicked sense of humor. Never one to let a moment slip by, she was fond of saying that bored people are boring. Betty loved being a grandma and bragged that she had a photo of Haley in every room. They had a unique bond and Haley loved staying at the farm.
Betty was a life long member of Olive Branch Church and the Order of the Eastern Star. Other organizations included the retired Nurse’s group in Wabash, and the Art Guild.
She is survived by two children, Mary Lou (Ron) Scholz of Crawfordsville, Indiana, and Timothy George Dawald of Roann; and her granddaughter, Haley Louise Scholz of Avon, Indiana. In addition she is survived by a nephew, Steve Sutton, nieces Darcy (Paul Bell) and Jennifer (Mike Ruprecht) and many great,and great great nieces and nephews and even two great great great nephews. Betty had many, many dogs and her current dog, Eva, was fond of sitting on her lap and offering unconditional love.She was also preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Wayne Conner and Morris Conner; and sister, Sarah Jane Sutton.
Funeral services will be 10:30 am, Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Roann Chapel, 335 S. Chippewa Rd., Roann, with Pastor Randy Myers officiating. Burial will be in Enterprise Cemetery, Roann. Friends may 4-7 pm Friday, at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is Roann Volunteer Fire Department.
The memorial guest book for Betty may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.
