Inc. 1967
Betty Toner Pettibon died of natural causes on January 4, 2014 at Masonic Village in Elizabethtown, PA; she was 83. Born in 1930 to Harold R. and Blanche A. Toner, she was raised in Belle Vernon, PA where she graduated from Vernon High School and Westminster College in New Castle, PA. She studied music education and was active in the Kappa Delta sorority. Music was her life’s work, represented fully in her career and hobbies. She taught elementary school music in Beaver County and Harrisburg Area School District for over twenty-five years. She extended her love of music as a lifetime member of the women’s barbershop organization known as Sweet Adelines International. Betty was crowned a “Queen of Harmony” in 1963, leading the international championship quartet known as the “Heathertones”. In 1966, she became the director of Greater Harrisburg Sweet Adeline Chorus. Under her direction, the chorus annually placed in the top five within Region 19 competitions. Additionally, they earned a seat at the international competition six times, placing in the top ten finishers, three times. Betty became a Master Director during her thirty-three years of directing. Betty spent her free time as an avid walker, cook, gardener, traveler, and mentor, all with the love for good humor and generosity. Betty is predeceased by her parents, Harold R. and Blanche A. Toner of Belle Vernon, PA. She is survived by her husband of sixty-one years, Dr. William G. Pettibon, and son Tedd T. Pettibon both of Harrisburg, PA; daughter and son-in-law Tolly Pettibon Sherry and Timothy Sherry of Exton, PA; daughter and son-in-law Tracy Pettibon Carroll and LTC Paul Carroll (USA) of Towson, MD; son and daughter-in-law CDR Todd O. Pettibon (USN) and Audrey Henry Pettibon of Fairfax, VA; and six wonderful grandchildren: Andrew Sherry, Bradley Sherry, Owen Carroll, Shea Carroll, Lindsey Pettibon and Peri Pettibon. Betty and Bill Pettibon have been members of Grace United Methodist Church since 1966.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2014, at Grace United Methodist Church, 216 State Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Visitation hours are 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service starting at 3:00 p.m. Donations may be made in memory of Betty Pettibon to: The Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, Office of Gift Planning, One Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022. Arrangements are entrusted to Jesse H. Geigle Funeral Home, Harrisburg. To send condolences to the family please visit GeigleFuneralHome.com or our Facebook page.
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