Betty Caldwell Obituary

Betty Jane Caldwell, 93, died Saturday, November 22, 2014 in Richmond, Indiana. Born in Elwood, Indiana on June 14, 1921, Betty was the first of three daughters for Merrill and Mildred (Knotts) Hiatt. She lived the majority of her life in Elwood, where she was a 1939 graduate of Elwood High School. Betty, or "BJ" as some of her family called her, excelled at public speaking and debate. She attended Franklin College after graduation. Betty married her high school sweetheart, O. William Caldwell, in 1941 at Harmony Christian Church, Leisure, Indiana. Betty and Bill raised five children and were married for 51 years, until his death in 1992.

Betty worked as a telephone operator, a retail and radio ad salesperson and also for the Elwood Call-Leader. She retired from sales at Indiana Gas Co. (now Vectren) in the 1980's. She was active in the First United Methodist Church of Elwood from 1941 until moving to Richmond in 2010. She especially enjoyed her church quilting group, which created and sold hand-worked quilts.

In 1995, Betty co-authored Elwood: A Pictorial History. She loved history, reading and was an excellent genealogist. Betty was a former member of the Library Board and also served on the Elwood Parks Department Board.

Above all, Betty loved her family. She is survived by her children: Greg Caldwell, Noblesville; Kim (Vicki) Caldwell, Kokomo; Monty (Madeline) Caldwell, Jeffersonville; Amy (Jerry) Hoffman, Richmond; and Brian (Susan) Caldwell of Kokomo. Her ten grandchildren are: Trent (Theresa) Caldwell, Travis (Rebecca) Caldwell, Julie (Kyle) Wiley, Stacey (Blaine) Paul, Lindsey (Guy) Curry, Mark Caldwell, Matthew Caldwell, Lauren Caldwell, Brad Caldwell, and Andrew (Sierra) Hoffman. Her legacy continues with her great-grandchildren: Taylor Caldwell, Lucy and Dane Caldwell, Garrett and Kayleigh Wiley, Logan and Brynn Paul, Skye and coming-soon baby Curry. BJ is also survived by her beloved sisters, Phyllis Welch (Naples, FL) and Florence Hiatt (Columbus, GA), as well as nieces, nephews and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and granddaughter Ashley Caldwell.

Her family thanks the staff at Friends Fellowship Community of Richmond, for their dedicated care of our mother in these final months of her life. We also thank special friends, Sally Conti and Annie Stewart.

A funeral service celebrating Betty's life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at First United Methodist Church, 1500 North A Street, Elwood, Indiana, with Rev. Cindy Osgood of Yorktown United Methodist Church and Rev. Jenny Charles of First United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Elwood City Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church the same day, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration or to First United Methodist Church.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home, 415 S. Anderson Street, Elwood, Indiana. Online condolences: www.copherfeslermay.com.