Betsy Riddle Whitmore

Betsy (Riddle) Whitmore was born June 6, 1936 in Ravenna, Ohio to parents Maxwell and Martha Riddle. Her brother Henry Warner Riddle III (July 19, 1938 - July 1, 2021) preceded her in death. Betsy died in Ravenna at her Whitmore homestead surrounded by her family October 28, 2021. Betsy earned an associate degree from Southern Seminary in Virginia, and a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University in Home Economics.

Betsy is survived by her husband of 63 years, Richard Hollis Whitmore, sons John (Jamie nee Case) of Cedarville Ohio, Jeff (Julie nee Timme) of Bayfield Colorado, Mike (Tina nee Morris) of Ravenna Ohio, Mark (Tanya nee Helmick) of Ravenna Ohio, and Andrew (Dedra nee Bennett) of Ravenna Ohio. There are 24 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

According to Dick, meeting Betsy was an answer to the prayer of “an arrogant 19 year old with a good factory job and a car, and still living at home.” He asked God for a nice girl because he felt an emptiness in his life. A week later, Dick met Betsy Riddle through a double blind date set up by his friend Larry. They had a spaghetti dinner and a hot fudge sundae and a simple, powerful love began for the two of them.

Dick and Betsy married August 31, 1958 and commenced a long wonderful life filled with many adventures. They began their life together in a tiny apartment in Shaker Heights. Betsy and Dick both worked at Stouffer’s Restaurant in Shaker Square, and then moved to Fort Lauderdale so Betsy could run the kitchen of the fancy Anacapri Inn. Their first son, John, was born in Florida and then the little family moved back to Betsy’s Riddle family farm. Here, just outside of town, the Whitmores took up residence on the hill in the woods above the creek, and added sons Jeff, Mike, Mark, and Andy.

Betsy was a tireless innovator in her family life and a faithful servant in two churches in Ravenna and Hope Community Bible Church in Spring Hill, Florida in retirement. She started Special Touch Catering where her cousin Tom Riddle remembered that “she proved herself to be a very competent business person as well as an excellent cook and organizer.” Later, she added the crafting bug to her sewing bug and started The Pine Cone Teddy Bear. In yet another business venture she joined her friend Sandy Caniglia and developed The Ravenna Christian Preschool housed at First Congregational Church, where she also served as the Christian Education Coordinator. Later Dick and Betsy helped begin The Family of Jesus Fellowship where they continued to serve the Lord and minister to the people of Ravenna.

But Gardening -- and reaping the fruits of her garden labors -- took first place in Betsy’s creative heart. She planted and tended and reshaped extensive organic gardens in any spot on the farm she could find like the hill garden and the garden “down below” as she called it; many plots surrounding the house and barn still thrive today as a testament to her vision. Hand in hand with her garden, each season a new farm animal would appear. At various times she raised pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits, geese and a small pony named Peanuts. Through each new scheme, her boys and her husband worked side by side with her and shared in the adventure of her labors.

Betsy’s greatest legacy is her family which she and Dick established and nurtured through a steadfast faith in God. Her grandchildren, whom she dearly loved, cherish her memory: Victoria, Jocelyn, Jess, Kayla, Denise, Jaana, Rachel, Lindsey, Jessica, Josh, Lauren, Carly, Josh, Sam, Audrey, Jacob, Martha, Caleb, Samantha, Scarlet, Gideon, Trystan, Adrien, and Layna. And her great grandchildren: Roy, Lola, Zoe, Flyer, Zephyr, Azaria, Paxon, Audie, Jacob, Hope, Levi, Elizabeth, Edison, Abel, Shiloh, Taryn, Ayla, Aria, and Levi. We all thank you Lord for our beautiful Betsy: we miss you, but we look forward to joining you in Heaven.

Please join our celebration of Betsy’s life on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Stow Alliance Fellowship Church located at 4460 Stow Road, Stow, Ohio. A luncheon will follow hosted by the church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Samaritan’s Purse International @ samaritanspurse.org. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.wood-kortright-borkoski.com.