Betty Jo Knafel
Betty Jo Knafel, 79, Wabash, died at 4:20 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, at Meadow Brook Senior Living in Fishers, where she lived since April 2015. She was born Feb. 3, 1936, in Marion, to Merl and Maratha (Kramer) Kelham.
Betty Jo was a graduate of Albion High School and received her dental hygienist certificate from Indiana University in Indianapolis. She married Richard “Ed” Knafel on Dec. 18, 1955; he died May 6, 2015. Betty Jo was the dental hygienist for Dr. Richard Day DDS in Wabash and also ran the field Dental Program for Indiana University several years. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Wabash, where she was in charge of funeral dinners for many years. and a longtime member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was well known for driving people to appointments, cooking, baking, and Christmas cookies. Betty Jo and Ed were true servants of God.
She is survived by two sons: Tom (Susan) Knafel, Cicero; and Pat (Nicole Davis) Knafel, Noblesville; four grandchildren: Brock Knafel, Hilton Head, S.C.; Blair Knafel, Carmel; Matt Knafel, Chicago, Ill.; and Carrie Lord, Cicero; brother: Tom (Kate) Kelham, Albion; and her sister: Jean Ferguson, Indianapolis. She was also preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, Wabash, with David Phillips officiating. Entombment will be in the Chapel of Remembrance Mausoleum, at Memorial Lawns Cemetery, Wabash. Friends may call 4-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the funeral home, where there will be an Eastern Star Service at 7:30 p.m.
Preferred memorial is Shriner’s Hospital for Children.