Betty Jean (Simpson) Canfield, age 90 passed away peacefully on 09/03/2025. Betty was born July 8, 1935, to Lawrence and Gladys (Johnston) Simpson in Mecca, Ohio. Betty and her two sisters grew up on a small farm and helped with chores. When she had to go back to the pasture for the cows, she would ride a very gentle one up to the barn. She had two summer jobs while in school: clerk in a 5 and 10 cent store and as a waitress in a local restaurant.
After graduating from Mecca High School in 1953, she entered the Trumball Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Warren, Ohio where she became a registered nurse. Later she entered Trumball Memorial School of Anesthesiology where she became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. In 1968 she went to Toccoa Falls Bible College planning on becoming a missionary nurse. It was there she met Glenn Canfield whom she married on May 10, 1969. Betty and Glenn spent 53 years together until Glenn’s passing on November 26, 2022. Together, they had a wonderful son, David, born August 5, 1971. Since she and Glenn were older, people often thought David was their grandson. David suddenly passed away in 2019.
Betty liked southern gospel music and had a lot of favorite groups. She also liked country music. There is an old saying she liked that said, “If you play a country music record backwards, you get your wife back, your truck back, and even your dog back.” Betty liked to know what was going on in the world and watched FOX News every day. She also liked reading, watching Christian TV, playing table games, and traveling. Glenn, Betty, and David enjoyed traveling and had been in almost every state. Before marriage, Betty had traveled to London, Paris, Rome, Israel, and Egypt with a tour group in 1960. She rode a camel in Egypt out to see the pyramids. She considered herself very fortunate to have seen the place where Christ was born and the tomb where he arose from the dead. She washed her hands in the Jordan River and the Dead Sea.
Betty was a member of Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Aurora, now known as Life Church. Over the years, she served as a Deaconess, an officer in the Alliance Women’s Missionary Prayer Group, chairperson of the ladies’ workdays, she was a Sunday School teacher for several years, and chairperson of one of the church prayer chains. Betty loved her church family.
Betty will be missed by her niece Debbie Parr, Poland, OH, nephew Noel Houze, Sr. of Aurora, Larry Bortmas of Fowler, OH. her great nephews, Tim (Anita) Dyer of Moores Hill, Indiana, Lynn (Kelly) Dyer of Dillsboro, Indiana, and Noel (Susan) Houze, Jr. of Milan, Indiana, her great nieces Debbie (Greg) Kleinholz, of St. Robert, Missouri, Cindy Houze of Dillsboro, Indiana, and Bonita (Richard) Palmer of Cincinnati, Ohio and many other friends and relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 53 years, Glenn, her beloved son, David, sisters Joan her husband Ralph Rose and Lois and her husband Eddie Bortmas, nieces Doris Kinnett and her husband Lawrence, Sharon Dyer and her husband Billy, and nephew Gaylord (Carole) Houze.
Betty was blessed with wonderful relatives, neighbors, and friends who cared for her. She thanks all of you very, very much.
At Betty’s request, graveside services only will be held at the Mount Sinai Cemetery on Monday, September 8, 2025 at 11:00 am. Rullman-Hunger Funeral Home, 219 Mechanic St., Aurora, IN is in charge of services.
Memorials may be given to Life Church (formerly the Alliance Church) of Aurora, Aurora Fire Department or Aurora Life Squad.
Pall Bearers: Alternates:
Tim Dyer Terry Johnson
Aaron Dyer Lynn Dyer
Noel Houze, Jr.
Bob Vinson
Dave Hopping
Les Johnson