Betty Preston Miller Valentine, age 96, passed away on November 23, 2023, following her husband, Bob, who passed on November 21.
Betty was born on June 3, 1927, to Emmet Preston and Lucille Kaelin Preston of Columbus. She is survived by her daughter, Lynn L. Miller of Grove City, and son, Dr. Michael (Colleen) Miller of Little Rock, AR, stepchildren Mark (Candy) Valentine of Grove City, and Janet (John) Pander of Douglasville, GA, sister-in-law Marian Valentine Edwards of Gahanna, cousin Martha Kaelin Jones of The Villages, FL, grandchildren Michael Miller and Rev. Michaelene (Ernest) Miller-Perez, step-grandchildren Greg Valentine, Jeff (Kelley) Valentine, Ashley (Bill) Wilson, Amanda Parsons, Brian (Dr. Elizabeth) Parsons, Chris (Kristi) Parsons, Che Shaw, and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Morrell "Skip" Miller and step-great-grandson Cameron Shaw.
Betty was an active alumna of Columbus North High School '45, The Ohio State University '49, and Alpha Delta Pi sorority. After receiving her education degree, she had a 30-year career teaching elementary education in Columbus, OH (Indian Springs), Chevy Chase, MD (Rollingwood), and Warren, OH (Lincoln and Garfield). She was named a Jennings Scholar, awarded by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, recognizing excellence in classroom teaching, for the 1966-67 school year.
Betty and Bob married in 1988 and enjoyed traveling to all 50 states and numerous countries throughout the world, attending Ohio State football games, and her wonderful family, friends, and students. She will be deeply missed.
Visitation will be 2pm-4pm on Sunday December 17, and an hour before the 10am memorial service on Monday, December 18, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 4501 Hoover Rd, Grove City, OH. Burial will take place after the holidays at Oakwood Cemetery, Warren, OH.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make contributions to the Ohio State University College of Education, The Ohio State Marching Band (Mangia.8@osu.edu), or Westerwood Rehabilitation (5757 Ponderosa Dr., Columbus 43231).