Betty M. Mehlberth

Betty M. Mehlberth, age 78 of Batesville and formerly of Dayton, Ohio, died Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at her home. Born November 16, 1930 in Dayton, she is the daughter of Bernice (Nee: Burns) and Oval Bland. She married Roland “Sonny” Mehlberth Jr. on September 29, 1950 at the Central Presbyterian Church in Dayton and he preceded her in death July 14, 2005. She was a member of Hillcrest Country Club in Batesville, the Phi Beta Psi Sorority, Sycamore Creek Country Club in Dayton and a former leader of the Centerville Co-eds. Betty was a talented decorator, building a distinguished career during her 30 years in business. Before moving to Batesville, she and a partner opened Workshop Originals. Their company decorated many prominent banks in the Dayton region and that naturally led them to residential interior decorating and the forming a second company known as Bellville Interiors. Along with her other two businesses, Betty was also in charge of decorating for the Normandy Farms Development Corporation and in 1967 was chosen as the recipient of Better Homes and Garden’s National Design Award. After moving to Batesville, she partnered with Mary Green to open The Finishing Touch design studio in 1992.She enjoyed reading fiction and romance novels along with sewing in her spare time. With a love for flowers, her time spent outside gardening was seen as a pleasure and not a chore. An enthusiast for the Arts, she enjoyed attending live theater performances and watching old movies on T.V. A good cook, her children fondly remember her meat loaf and pot roast dinners. They also teased her about her dislike of golf. “For as much as dad loved it, mom hated it that much.” She also didn’t care to be near water, but since Sonny loved boats and being a good sport, she nervously spent many hours out on it.Betty is survived by her daughters Janet Lovell of Dayton, Ohio, Pam Manor of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; sons Martin of Batesville, Jeff of Centerville, Ohio; brother Raymond (Louise) Bland of Albuquerque, New Mexico; 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband and parents. Visitation is Monday, August 17th, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services follow at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 18th, at 1:45 p.m., a committal service will be held at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton with visitation one half hour prior. The family requests memorials to Hospice of Margaret Mary Hospital or Phi Beta Psi Sorority Cancer Research.

Betty M. Mehlberth

August 11, 1931 - August 11, 2009