Betty Ann Foxworthy

Betty Ann, as she was known by all, was a bright, vivacious girl who grew up in Indianapolis determined to be a writer. She graduated cum laude from Butler University and began to accomplish her dreams shortly thereafter. While at Butler, as head of the Theta Sigma Phi Matrix Table events, she was able to convince Ayn Rand to come to Indianapolis and give a speech. This was a highlight in her life and she remained an ardent Ayn Rand supporter for the rest of her life.

She joined Trap & Field magazine in 1956 and quickly moved up the organization, becoming editor in 1960. Thereafter, she became editor and publisher of the magazine and continued in that position for 24 years until 1984. She was a founding member of the Trapshooting Hall of Fame and served continuously on the committees for the Hall and the Museum. Her achievements were acknowledged when she was included in ‘Who’s Who of American Women’ for the 1968-69 year. She was inducted into the Trapshooting Hall of Fame in 1980 and into the Indiana Trapshooting Hall of Fame in 1984. An avid supporter of the 2nd Amendment, she testified before three Congressional committees to support gun ownership.

In 1951, she married David Bixler and had 5 children with him, David, Kathy, Scott, Anna and Brian. During the early years of their marriage she traveled extensively to all 50 states, covering trapshooting events for Trap & Field. She was an early jet-setter. In 1964, she re-married to Roy Foxworthy who was the 1960 Grand American Handicap winner of trapshooting. During their marriage she traveled overseas to such places as Thailand, Australia, Tahiti, Germany, Italy, the Bahamas and many more.

She retired in 1984, but continued to contribute to Trap & Field as Editor Emeritus and Field Editor, covering shoots, conducting interviews and acting as a liaison between the American Trapshooting Association (ATA) and Trap & Field. She enjoyed living at her Grandview Lake house in southern Indiana where her numerous children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren would come to visit. Later in life, she and Roy made their home in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Roy pre-deceased her on February 16, 2015.

Her sister, Beverly, pre-deceased her on March 30, 2024.

She is survived by her children, David Bixler (Donna), Kathy Bedwell (Doug), Scott Bixler, Anna Emerson and Brian Bixler. She also has 5 grandchildren, Colin Bixler, Ian Bixler, Douglas Bedwell, Elizabeth Hayes (Brad) and David Bedwell (Shannon). She has 6 great-grandchildren, Taylor Snow (Steven), Chloe Hayes, Marek Hayes, Ellia Hayes, Hailey Bedwell and Hudson Bedwell and one great-great grandchild, Juniper Snow.

She is also survived by four stepchildren, Linda Flynn (Bob); Beverly Radloff (Paul); Scott Foxworthy (Madelyn); Carol Bahrami (Mahmoud-deceased); 5 grandchildren, Amanda Foxworth; Jessica Dotson (Matthew); Erin Foxworthy (Robert Peter); Roya Bahrami; Layla Wirtz (Joseph); and two great grandchildren, Tyler Dotson and Natalie Wirtz.

She had a rich and full life and was always busy. She will be greatly missed by her family, her friends and the countless other individuals in the trapshooting world upon whose lives she made a difference.

A visitation for Betty Ann will be held Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 12:00 PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46208, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 PM.