Ruth Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Kilgore, 95, of Winter Haven passed away Friday, March 26th, 2021. Betty was born on September 6th, 1925 in Boswell Pennsylvania to Lanty Dewey Hypes and Ruth Elizabeth Walker.
She married Edgar Hodge in 1941 and moved to Texas and then to Florida as he completed his medical residency, and settled in Lake Alfred, Fl. Betty and Edgar had two children, Lanty Bruce and Ruth Elizabeth. After their divorce Betty moved to Ohio and married Harry Earl Wysong and had two children, Nancy Marie and Penny Beth. They lived in Ravenna, Ohio for several years. Once Betty and Harry divorced she moved back to Florida. She found love once more and married Chester Lee Kilgore.
Betty enjoyed being in the sales industry, especially her job as manager of Gordon’s Jewelers in Lakeland. Betty also loved to dance, listen to live music, a good martini and jellybeans, but most of all she loved her family.
She is survived by her brother Langdon ‘Sonny’ Hypes, son Lanty (Judy) Hodge, daughters Ruth Hodge, Nancy (Ron) Zachary and Penny (George) Lehmkuhle, grandchildren Kelly Hodge, Lanty Hodge, Robert Hodge, Kerry Hodge, Portia Donnellan, Siobhan White, Alexandria Zachary, Bryanna Zachary, Dustin Pantalone and Zachary Lehmkuhle. Betty is also survived by many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Betty was a strong, independent woman who did things her own way and was always dressed to the nines. We miss her so much.
Services will be held at Lakeland Funeral Home on Thursday April 1, 2021.
Visitation from 10 AM -12 PM, Service at 12 PM.
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Click here to view a webcast of the service on 4/1/2021 at 11:55 AM, Eastern Standard Time.
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