Elizabeth "Betty" Jane (Houston) Close

Elizabeth "Betty" Jane (Houston) Close

Celebrating a century of life: Elizabeth "Betty" Jane (Houston) Close, age 100, left us peacefully in her sleep on Thursday night, April 20, 2023. Betty was born on September 15, 1922, in Youngwood, Pennsylvania, to Theodore and Mary Bell Houston. To secure work, her father moved the family frequently during the Great Depression but eventually settled in Avalon, PA, where Betty graduated from Avalon High School. She serendipitously met her husband, Jacob Close, of 72 years on a blind date while visiting her cousin in Toledo, OH. They married on March 28, 1942 - the day before Jacob deployed to the Pacific Theater as an infantryman during World War II. Betty did not see her husband again for 3 years and 11 months, when Jacob returned home after the war. They were able to keep in touch via hundreds of letters â€" all of which Betty kept. During the war, Betty worked in Pittsburgh as a civilian employee of the U.S. Navy. In 1946 they settled in Toledo to raise their family of four children. Betty was active in her children's lives, often volunteering as "Room Mother" and helping with many school functions. She was a member of Rosewood and then Fairgreen Presbyterian Church and spent countless years attending social functions including University of Toledo football games and playing golf with the "church gang." Betty scored a hole-in-one during one such golf outing. She was also a member of the Eastern Stars. Once the children were grown, Betty and Jacob travelled extensively with family and friends to places including the Panama Canal, England, and Israel. Her later life included spending time with her adored grandchildren, who kept her young.

Betty was an expert at solving all types of puzzles, especially jigsaw puzzles. She was also an avid viewer of Turner Classic Movies. She claimed those things were what kept her sharp. Outside of her family, Betty loved most: chocolate, ice cream, laughing, playing games, and babies. Through God's mercy, she enjoyed over 100 years of all five.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jacob Close; daughter, Patti Close Grant; son, Donald Close; and grandson, Peter Mentzer. Surviving Betty are son, Ken Close (Pat); daughter, Gale Mentzer (Brett); grandchildren, Michelle Murphy (Brian), Donna Close, Carol Walker (Matt), Sam Mentzer (MiKayla), and Simon Mentzer (Sarah); and great grandchildren, Winnona and Arianna Walker, Jacob Murphy, and Cameron Mentzer. There are two more great grandchildren expected in 2023.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the administrators and nursing staff of Charter Senior Living of Oak Openings, and to the staff of ProMedica Hospice.

The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. on April 29, 2023 at Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home, 2426 North Reynolds Road. The Funeral will follow at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Toledo Memorial Park. The family kindly suggests contributions be made in Betty's name to Fairgreen Presbyterian Church or the charity of their choice.

www.wisniewskifuneral.net

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elizabeth "Betty" Jane (Houston) Close, please visit our floral store.