Betty K Kappler

Betty K. Kappler passed away December 20, 2013 at Union Hospital.

She was born at home on the family farm in Goshen Township June 6, 1925, the daughter of Jacob W. and Mary (Murphy) Aubihl.

Her early years were spent working and helping on the farm, one of the first in the area to get electricity. She attended New Philadelphia High School, graduating in 1943. After graduation she worked for several years at the Citizen’s Bank. When World War II ended, she married Kenneth D. Kappler October 20 1946, to whom she remained married 66 years.

She would later help Kenny establish his successful coal mining and trucking business, Kappler Trucking and Coal Company. They worked together in this enterprise for many years, keeping Betty occupied full time as a partner, mother and home maker. They ran the business from home and their truck garage on Beaver Avenue where they repaired their own equipment. In addition to mining and hauling coal they also hauled and delivered lime, gravel and heavy machinery. Betty did book work for the business and spent many hours ordering and picking up repair parts, in addition to raising their children.

As she and Kenny eased into retirement they purchased a home in Port Charlotte Florida where they split their residences through the years as “snowbirds”. Her favorite pastime was making quilts and giving them as gifts. Each of her grandchildren received one when they were married. In later years they retreated again solely to New Philadelphia in the home they owned and lived in for nearly 65 years. Her last days were spent comfortably at the New Dawn retirement home with husband Kenny. She was a member of the First United Church of Christ, the VFW, and the Tuscarawas Senior Center and had assisted at the voting polls for many years.

She was preceded in death by husband Kenny, her parents, brother George and sister in law Jane Aubilh and sister Joanne Heinle.

She is survived by son Mark and his wife Rondee of Atlanta, Georgia, and daughter Marlene and her husband Donn Everhard of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, six grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives.

Visitation will be held in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Friday, December 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. A service celebrating Betty’s life will be held in the funeral home chapel on Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia.

Friends are invited to the Geib Family Center following the service where a meal will be shared.