Barbara Kolb Beittel
Barbara Beittel died on December 2, 2015, at the age of 89. She was born in Philadelphia, PA, in 1926 a daughter of Gladys and Robert Kolb. She graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls, holds the Artist’s Certificate from the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, the Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Lebanon Valley College and the Master of Music degree from Ohio University.
Her life is identified in three ways: first she was a pastor’s wife having been married to Reverend Dale Russell Beittel for 67 years and, with him, served churches in Connecticut, Chicago, West Virginia and Ohio; second she found joy in motherhood and the raising of four loving children who have honored their father and mother and are mature adults of integrity, generosity and commitment; third is her life as a musician. Mrs. Beittel has been professional choir director at Lordship Congregational Church, Stratford, Connecticut; First United Methodist Church, Perrysburg, Ohio; Riverside U. M. Church, Columbus; Armstrong U. M. Church, Cincinnati; Central U. M. Church, Springfield; and Grace U. M. Church, Zanesville. She has been elementary music teacher and supervisor in the public schools of Pennsylvania and Ohio. She has been on the adjunct faculty of University of Toledo, Central State University, Glenville State College at Parkersburg, Marietta College and on the tenured faculty of West Virginia University at Parkersburg from which she retired as Associate Professor. Her career as a pianist has included giving piano recitals in England and Germany and being piano soloist with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, the Connecticut Symphony, the Toledo Symphony, the Springfield Symphony (Wittenberg) and the Cincinnati Symphony.
Until recently she was active in United Methodist Women, Parkersburg Choral Society, National Society of Arts and Letters, Learning in Retirement, P. E. O. Sisterhood, Marietta Reading Club and doing professional piano accompanying.
Mrs. Beittel is survived by her daughter Elizabeth Ann Beittel, Marietta; sons Kent R. Beittel (Mary) Columbus; T. Brooks Beittel (Georgina) Akron; Todd R. Beittel (Leesa) Columbus; twelve grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren and a sister-in-law Janice Gray Kolb.
Memorial service will be held at Christ United Methodist Church at 301 Wooster Street, Marietta, Ohio, at 11:00am on Monday (Dec.7) with a fellowship gathering following the memorial service at the church. Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.Lankfordfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Barbara’s memory to Christ United Methodist Church, 301 Wooster St., Marietta, OH 45750 or The Open Shelter, 61 E. Mound St., Columbus, OH 43215.