Mary E. "Betty" Kephart

April 27, 1919 - May 15, 2017

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Kephart, 98, of Bluffton passed away on Monday morning, May 15, 2017, at Markle Health & Rehab Center. Betty was born on April 27, 1919 in Pittsburgh, PA to Albert T. Eyler & Mary Belle (Dodson) Eyler. She graduated from Dormont High School in 1936 and from Bucknell University with an A.B. in Mathematics in 1940. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bluffton and United Methodist Women. She was also active in the Foltz Reading Club, P.E.O., Psi Iota Xi, and served as the President of the Women's Auxiliary to the Indiana State Medical Association from 1968-1969. On June 27, 1942 in Philadelphia, PA, Betty and Bruce Kephart were married. They shared 53 years together before he preceded her in death on October 15, 1995. Betty is survived by her four children: Maryanne (Patrick) Michaels of Santa Rosa, CA, John Eyler Kephart of Bluffton, Patricia K. (Rex) Mahnensmith of Simsbury, CT and James Eyler (Susan Rivar) Kephart of Salem, OR. She is also survived by three grandchildren: Theo (Brian Roberts) Michaels, Mary Patricia (Grant) Gritzmacher and Mark Rex (Kelly) Mahnensmith, along with four great-grandchildren: Nathan & Adelaide Gritzmacher and Lydia & Corban Mahnensmith. She is preceded in death by her brother Albert T. “Bert” Eyler, Jr. A service to celebrate Betty’s life will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday (May 18, 2017) at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Pastor Steve Bard will officiate. Calling hours will be held from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, prior to the service. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery in Bluffton. Memorials may be made in Betty’s memory to the First United Methodist Church, American Cancer Society, or to the Nature Conservancy. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can send online condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.