Betty Jane Gahagen Lindsay
Betty Jane Gahagen Lindsay, 94, of South Buffalo Township joined her family and friends in the spiritual world Friday morning while at Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Cabot.
Her greatest joy was being a supportive wife and mother and spending time with the loved ones who now celebrate her life. She was the Lord's faithful servant.
Born June 17, 1921, in Reynoldsville, Pa., Betty was the daughter of the late Rev. Clair B. “Cal” and Florence (Dible) Gahagen.
She married the late Alexander Heilman Lindsay Sr. on Aug. 8, 1942, in Pittsburgh.
She lived in several states before graduating from Pennsylvania College for Women (now Chatham College) and attending Yale School of Nursing.
She was an excellent student, was on the PCW rifle team and played lawn hockey.
Betty was an accomplished musician who learned to play the piano at a young age and studied the harp and oboe in her teen years.
During high school and college she played in the orchestra at Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) and sang in her church's choir.
While her children were young, she took organ lessons and taught music in the Pittsburgh New Church School.
After her 60th birthday, she learned to play the guitar, autoharp and dulcimer. Betty is well remembered for playing the harp at Christmas and for special events throughout her life.
At the Sower's Chapel in Winfield Township, where she was a member, she served on the pastor's council and was an inspiring organist and choir director for more than 20 years.
Betty cherished her times sharing worship and music with neighbors for community services.
She taught Sunday and Bible schools for decades and was involved with release-time religious education in local schools. Betty ministered with her very life.
Despite being raised a city girl, she became a farm wife. A generous and welcoming hostess, she invited countless people to share meals around her large kitchen table or at picnic tables outdoors. She enjoyed baking for any occasion.
Although she was never without a book to read and many children will recall her reading to them, Betty was usually in motion, much like her hummingbird friends. She was a flower and vegetable gardener and a bee keeper.
She liked swimming, horseback riding and traveling to Florida, many states and Europe.
She learned to fly and soloed in a Piper Cub. Betty was a constant correspondent with family, far away friends and loved ones who were ill.
She enthusiastically enjoyed her family's venture of Birdsfoot Golf Club.
She was a member of the Tarentum Book Club, a lifelong member of the Freeport College Club and a past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star in Freeport.
She was an instrumental supporter of Birdsfoot Golf Club. During the past few years, Betty was fond of her many caregivers and her family is grateful for their kindness.
She is survived by her eight children, Carol Ann (William) Kronen of South Buffalo Township, Alexander H. (Trish) Lindsay Jr. of Buffalo Township, John S. (Erica) Lindsay of South Buffalo Township, Charles G. (the late Claudia) Lindsay of Winfield Township, James P. (Mary) Lindsay of South Buffalo Township, Laurie Ann Lindsay of Winfield Township, Andrew S. (Lisa) Lindsay of South Buffalo Township and Thomas “Jarve” R. (Beth) Lindsay of South Buffalo Township; Dr. J. Daniel Heilman of South Buffalo Township, who she raised; 32 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Jean Gahagen of Duarte, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, who died in 1995, and her parents, she was preceded in death by two infant grandchildren and her brother, Charles E. Gahagen.
LINDSAY — Family and friends of Betty Jane Gahagen Lindsay, who died Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, will be received from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Sower's Chapel, 100 Iron Bridge Road, Sarver.A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Sower's Chapel with the Rev. Charles Blair and the Rev. Derrick Lumsden officiating.Betty will be buried next to her husband, Alex, in the Freeport Cemetary.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Sower's Chapel, 100 Iron Bridge Road, Sarver, PA 16055 or to the Freeport Area Library, 428 Market St. Freeport PA 16229.Arrangements are entrusted to The Redmond Funeral Home, 524 High St., Freeport.For more information or to send a condolence visit, www.redmondfuneralhomeinc.com.
