Madonna “Mattie” Bettelon of Navarre, FL went home to heaven on July 27, 2020, after battling cancer four times. Born to Roy Dawson Wilson and Lena Louise (Adams) Wilson on August 9, 1941, she grew up in New Paris, OH, and graduated in 1959 from Jefferson HS. She married another JHS grad, John Edward Bettelon in 1961. They raised their three children in New Paris. She taught Sunday School at St. Paul United Methodist Church for 20 years, and she worked at various jobs including C.R. Coblentz Elementary School, National Trux-N-Parts, and then with the City of Hagerstown (IN) once they moved there in the mid-80s. The family took many vacations to Canada, traveled the Midwest for hundreds of softball tournaments and she & John rarely missed an Ohio State football or basketball game on TV as well as a few at “The Shoe.” Retirement for the couple took them to Navarre to be near their daughters & their families. She was a member of Gulf Breeze UMC, and enjoyed sewing, baking, reading & going to bingo with her friends.
Madonna was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John of 44 years, brother Jack Moran, son-in-law Steve Captain, and step-granddaughters Olivia & Emily Daugherty.
She is survived by her daughter Lisa Captain Curry (Jim); son Phil Bettelon (Allison); daughter Jona Friedman (Mike); grandchildren Derek & Katie Captain, Jared Daugherty, Jordan & Natalie Bettelon, Madison Friedman, Natalie & Taylor Curry; and 10 great-grandchildren who will miss her dearly.
Due to COVID-19, a celebration of life will be held at a later date in New Paris, but you may go online now & sign the guestbook & offer condolences at www.barnesfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.