Betty Loyd Fickell

Fickell (Loyd) Betty Loyd Fickell, died peacefully in her sleep on October 25, 2013. She was born Elizabeth Jane Rauch on August 20, 1923 along the Ohio river in Bellaire, to Glorina Lynskey Rauch and George Washington Rauch, the third of six children. The family moved to Steubenville when the steel mill at which her father worked closed over night during the Great Depression. She graduated from Steubenville Catholic Central High School and was proud of being the Drum Majorette of the band. In 1942 at the age of 19 she moved to Washington DC where she worked for Marine Command Headquarters throughout World War II. While volunteering at the USO she was thrilled to serve tea to Eleanor Roosevelt. She also met Marine Staff Sgt. Howard Gerald Loyd at the USO whom she married on January 21, 1944. Together they had three children, Frederick, Jeannie and Kenneth. The young family moved to Whitehall in 1953. Widowed in 1962, Betty taught grade school, worked as an early computer operator for a local engineering firm and then opened her own small catering company. She met and fell in love with William Harry Fickell, a widower himself with three children, in 1965 and married him in 1971. They travelled the country and world togther until his death in 1987. Betty was a tireless volunteer at St. Anthony's Hosital for over 10 years. She loved the Columbus Symphony being a season ticketholder for 30 years. For the last 15 years she purchased the entire first row of the balcony center section for the Holiday Pops concert, treating family and friends to a Christmas tradition. The last of her generation she left us after having lost her youngest son, Ken Loyd, to cancer in 2007. She is survived by son, Fred Loyd of Columbus; and daughter, Jeannie Loyd Adams Lindberg of Yucca Valley, CA. She is loved by grandaughters, Stacey and Shannon; four great grandchildren; nieces, nephews; daughter-in-law, Paula; and son-in-law, Don. Visitation Thursday, October 31 and Friday, November 1 from 6-8 p.m. at EGAN - RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 403 E. Broad Street. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday November 2, 2013 at St. Christopher Catholic Church, 1420 Grandview Ave., Columbus, OH. Interment to follow immediately at St. Joseph's Cemetery, 6440 S. High Street., Lockbourne, OH.