Betty Jean Kindle's Obituary
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Betty Jean Kindle (Bartz) on January 13, 2026, at the age of eighty-nine. She was born on April 29, 1936, in Temple, Texas, to Walter and Bertha Bartz (Zingleman).
Betty Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, Kenneth W. “Toby” Kindle, and her younger sisters Shirley Robb and Doris Marie Blackwell. Betty Jean leaves behind her son Keith Petty Kindle and her daughter-in-law Susan, who she absolutely adored. Her granddaughter Nancy Lou Cathey (Kindle), Son-in-Law Brent Cathey and grandsons William Wayne Kindle and John Christian Kindle, in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.
Betty Jean was raised in Taylor, Texas and was a member of the Class of 1954 Taylor Fighting Ducks. She was a long-time resident of Longview and a member of the First Christian Church. She enjoyed numerous fabulous trips with her husband to attend engineering (golf) conferences around Texas and the nation. She was very active in the community and enjoyed playing golf with the Oak Forest Ladies Association and later the Garden Club, her Bridge Club, and her beloved Mexican Train cadre of dear friends.
The family wishes to express their profound thankfulness to her next-door neighbor and dearest friend, Betty Horaney, who was always there for anything she or the family needed. The family also wishes to extend the same gratitude to Marion Mack, Janice Canion, Patsy Wood, and all her other friends in the Palisades subdivision and community, who loved her and helped her immensely. Finally, a special thank you to Karen Folk, who provided loving care on a daily basis that enabled Betty Jean to live at home for as long as possible, something she dearly wished to do.
Betty Jean was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be sorely missed but always in our hearts.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Foundation to benefit the new Cancer Center. Christus Good Shepherd Foundation 700 E. Marshall Avenue, Longview, TX 75601
Funeral Services will be held at Rader Funeral Home in Longview, Texas on January 20, 2026, at 10:00 A.M., with interment following at Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Longview. Visitation will be held the evening of Monday, January 19 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., at Rader Funeral Home of Longview, Texas.
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