Betty Ann Harmless

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Betty Ann (Judy) Harmless, 92, died peacefully on Oct. 7, 2017 at Autumn Glen Assisted Living in Greencastle.

She was preceded in death by her parents William Fant Judy and Goldie Sears Judy, her loving husband Howard Martin Harmless and six sisters, Madonna Donelson, Wanita Lich, Gail Brown, Katherine Templeman, Iola Kelly, Edna Bee Scobee and a brother, Clinton Fant Judy. A surviving brother, Thomas Judy (Betty Ann) resides in Greencastle.

Howard and Betty Ann have three sons, Howard Martin II (Kay deceased), Michael Marion (Susan) and Anthony William (Patti). Grandchildren include Marty (Stephanie), Hillary Church (Jay), Heather Donegan (Bart), Mark, Andrew and Anna, great-grandchildren Zeb Church, Franny Church, Betty Harmless and Heidi Harmless.

Betty Ann was born on May 14, 1925 in Bainbridge. She grew up on the Judy farm north and west of Greencastle in Putnam County.

One wonderful memory of her childhood was tap dancing to "Happy Days are Here Again" for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt at a political rally in Indianapolis on Sept. 5, 1936.

With World War II raging, she married Howard on May 15, 1942 before he went into the service.

Upon graduating from Greencastle High School on May 28, 1943, she joined her husband during his Army Air Corps and Aviation Cadet training at Maxwell Field, North Carolina State, and Sioux Falls AFB, South Dakota.

After the war, Betty and Howard moved back to Greencastle and became small business owners with coin laundries and water conditioning as their primary businesses.

Betty Ann was very active in the community, Saint Andrews Episcopal Church, Windy Hill Country Club and DePauw University. Her love of golf introduced her to a world of joy and adventure. She was the Windy Hill Club champion numerous times and served as president of the board. She competed in the Indiana Women's Golf Association (IWGA) State Tournament in the 1970s and 1980s and served as its president in 1980. She served on the board of the Indiana Senior Women's Golf Association and served as president in 1983 and 2001. In 1979, Betty Ann won the Old Ladies Golf Association (OLGA) Championship, shooting an 85.

When asked by DePauw Athletic Director Ted Katula to become the women's golf team assistant coach, she proudly accepted and served from the late 1980s through early 2000s.

Betty is a member of Pi Beta Phi and served as Indiana Epsilon chapter adviser through the '70s, '80s and '90s.

Saint Andrews was an integral part of her life where she served in many roles and always participated in the church's many activities. She was a member of Tri Kappa and Over the Tea Cups. To fulfill her wishes as a three-time cancer survivor, her remains were donated to the Anatomical Education Program at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

A memorial celebration for Betty Ann will be held at Saint Andrews Episcopal Church, 520 E. Seminary St., Greencastle, on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saint Andrews Episcopal Church.