Betty Fritchen

Betty Francis (Summers) Fritchen, 89, Columbus, formerly of Lancaster, passed away Saturday, August 18, 2018. Born Sept. 14, 1928 in Reading, OH to the late Herman and Edith (Coleman) Summers. Betty’s family moved to Lancaster and she lived with her grandparents after her parents moved to Youngstown in 1946. She is a 1947 graduate of Lancaster High School.

She worked for many years at the former RBM (Essex Wire) before she began working at Western Electric in Columbus. She moved to Columbus in 1969, when she married Eugene Fritchen, who preceded her death. After retiring from Western Electric, to help raise her grandchildren, she went back to work at Wal Mart on Morse Road for 14 years.

Betty loved to sing and bowl. She was a member of the Lancaster Church of Christ in Christian Union (Faith Memorial Church), where she sang in a trio with her best friends, Eileen Cattran, Ann Butts, and Helen Schooley. After moving to Columbus she attended the North Church of Christ in Christian Union.

She bowled at the former Mt. Pleasant Lanes and Palace Lanes in Columbus where she enjoyed her friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; sisters, Lois Smith and Edith Luptak; brother, Herman “John” Summers; and daughter, Tammy.

Betty is survived by her son Bob (Karen) Bensonhaver, Circleville; daughter Beverly Bynum, Columbus; brothers-in-law, Richard Smith, MI and David Luptak, PA; sister-in-law, Anna Summers, MI; grandchildren, Michelle Hasenauer, Billy and Todd Bensonhaver; 12 great grandchildren; 7 great-great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to thank Winchester Place Nursing Home for their wonderful care of Betty.

A funeral will take place at the Frank E. Smith Funeral Home, 405 N. Columbus St. Lancaster, on Thursday at 1PM, with Rev. Don Seymour presiding. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 11AM until the time of service at the funeral home. Donations in Betty’s name can be made to a charity of your choice. Online condolences can be made at www.funeralhome.com