Betty Jeanne (George) Hill, Defiance, died Sunday, July 15, 2018, at age 90. Betty was born in Wauseon, Ohio, on October 1, 1927, to Elmer Ray George and Mabel Irene (Willeman) George. She was a graduate of Wauseon High School and a 1949 graduate of Bowling Green State University (BGSU), where she earned a B.A. in liberal arts. Betty met James Robert "J.R." Hill, Cleveland, while they were both students at BGSU. J.R. and Betty were married September 15, 1949. They enjoyed 62 years of marriage until his death in 2010. Betty was a lifelong resident of northwest Ohio. After graduating from BGSU, she and J.R. lived in Toledo, where J.R. studied law at the University of Toledo, before they moved to Defiance in 1952. Betty worked for 25 years in the Defiance Public Schools as a library assistant before retiring in 1994. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she sang in the choir, and was a longtime volunteer at the local hospital. She was also an active participant in bridge club and Current Event Club, regularly hosting gatherings at her home. Throughout her life, Betty was an avid reader, gardener and bird-watcher. She and J.R. enjoyed a long retirement together, indulging their mutual love of history by traveling to explore regional points of interest. Betty loved nature, northwest Ohio, and her longtime home overlooking the Auglaize River. She is survived by her daughter, April L. Harris of Madison, Alabama; son-in-law, Douglas Welling of Chagrin Falls, Ohio; and grandchildren, James Richard Harris of Orlando, Florida, Graham Welling of Cleveland, and Paula Welling of Ithaca, New York. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her brother, Robert R. George; her son-in-law, James Edward Harris; and her daughter, Victoria S. Welling. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, August 25, at the First Presbyterian Church, 501 Washington Avenue, Defiance. The family suggests memorials to be given to the First Presbyterian Church.

Service

AUG 25. 1:00 PM

First Presbyterian Church 501 Washington Ave. Defiance, OH