ALVA, OK — Funeral service for Betty Jo Pangburn will be 10 a.m. Saturday,
Sept. 21, 2013, at First United Methodist Church, Alva, with the Rev. Terry
Martindale officiating. Burial will follow in Alva Municipal Cemetery under
the direction of Marshall Funeral Home, Alva. The casket will be open at the
funeral home until 9 a.m. Saturday and will remain closed at the church.
Betty Jo Gallon Pangburn was born Jan. 16, 1938, in Alva, Okla., to Autmer
A. and Pearl (Wright) Gallon. She entered into eternal life on Tuesday,
Sept. 17, 2013, after a two-year battle with cancer.
She was raised by her parents on a farm north of Alva, with her two sisters.
Betty Jo has been a lifelong resident of Alva. After graduating from Alva
High School in 1956, Betty Jo received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees
in education from Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
On Aug. 29, 1958, she was united in marriage to Dale Herman Ritter. Two
children were born to this marriage.
On May 21, 1982, she was married to Donald Lee Bellah in Alva, Okla.
Together they enjoyed family gatherings and always had a large garden, which
they loved sharing with family and friends. He preceded her in death Dec. 2,
2002.
On Nov. 21, 2008, she married Samuel Wesley Pangburn in Alva, Okla.
After celebrating their 50th class reunion, these two lifelong friends and
classmates were married. They enjoyed traveling to Europe, Hawaii, and the
East and West coasts, visiting friends and families.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Nadine Marie Sternberger;
and two infant brothers.
Betty Jo is survived by her husband, Sam of Alva; one son, Douglas Dale
Ritter and wife Westline of Alva; one daughter, Dana Kay Roark and husband
Dan of Kiowa, Kan.; five grandchildren, Rachel Nicole, Grant Douglas and
Garrett Larson Ritter of Alva, and Hailey Jo Roark of New York, N.Y., and
Courtney Jean Roark of Kiowa; and one sister, Barbara Ann Bouziden of Alva.
Also surviving are two stepdaughters, Shelly Taylor and her friend Al
Anderson of Pottsboro, Texas, and Andrea Koeber of Sacramento, Calif.;
stepson, Russell Pangburn and wife Missy of Columbia, Md.; stepdaughter,
Peggy Rathmell and husband John of Houston, Texas; stepson, Mark Bellah; 12
stepgrandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; other relatives and many
friends.
Betty Jo was a very strong and faithful servant for the Lord, and a very
good friend to many people. She will be missed extremely, but is truly now
in a heavenly place without pain and suffering.
Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church, Alva, Share
Hospice, or the Myeloma Institute at the UAMS Foundation Fund.
The full obit will be at www.marshallfuneralhomes.com.
(Submitted by family)
