Betty Elzay was first woman elected to Ada Council
Betty Elzay, our beloved mother left this "earthly plane" on December 12, 2021, to start another chapter in her journey. She was surrounded by her two sons and their wives at her son Allen's home in Green Valley, Arizona.
Betty was born December 16, 1922 to Franklin and Bluette Weinhold.
Betty’s husband, Howard, died when their three children were young. As a single mother she worked at Ohio Northern University as the maintenance secretary. She graduated from ONU the year she retired from working there. Betty had a dual major in political science and history. She managed to carry a 4.0 grade average while working full time. Betty was a proud member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority.
Betty loved to travel and over the years she hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail, floated the Colorado River, saw Alaska and went to Russia and Africa.
She ran for city council of our little village of Ada and was elected the first woman to hold that seat.
After retiring from Ohio Northern, she went to Wyoming and worked at Jackson Lake Lodge where she was the maintenance secretary there for 17 summers.
In 2013 at the young age of 90 she picked up and moved to Green Valley, Arizona, to leave the cold weather behind and to be close to her son Allen. After living at the Peaks, a beautiful retirement development, for a few years she moved in with Allen and his wife, Jane.
Guiding us but letting us make our own mistakes, she was kind, loving, strong, generous, amazing, adventurous and the best mother we could have ever wanted. Betty never complained and always had God in her heart.
"God is love” "The truth will set you free."
Happy trails until we meet again.
Forever in our hearts.
Betty is survived by her children, Frank (Claudia), Mickey, and Allen (Jane), grandchildren, Ben (Lindsey), Sam (Sarah), and Nick and after waiting 98 years, her great-granddaughter, Odessa.
Go Bucks!
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, May 2, 2025
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
- Bulldog softball upset by Delphos Jefferson
- Bulldog baseball edged by Jefferson
- Bulldog boys and girls 2nd at Bloomdale track tri-meet
- ONU classed as "lower access, higher earnings" institution
- Field reports from NW Ohio wildlife officers
- Ohio High School All-State Honors Band, ONU Symphonic Band perform May 4
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
- William Douglas Burris worked for Rockwell International
- Beatitudes style show proves thrift can be fashionable
- Bulldog softball rallies for win vs. Falcons
- Bulldog baseball loss vs. Falcons
- Bulldogs compete in Ada JH track invitational
- Bulldog tennis loss vs. Bluffton
- Letter: The benefits of vaccinating newborns and children
Monday, April 28, 2025
- Anabel R. McBride worked for Ada Exempted Village Schools
- Trash to Treasure STEAM program on May 3
- Student entrepreneurs compete in 2025 Polar Innovation Exchange
- Lifesaving AED installed at One More gym on E. Buckeye
- St. Mark Community Meal is April 30
- Alfes wins Medalist honors at OAC golf championships
- Wilma A. Willeke worked at Ohio Northern