Dateline: Norman, Oklahoma
Betty Jane Welch Gruber, was born on the 27th of January, 1926, to Elmer and Inez Jane Welch. She married her best friend, Arthur Gruber in Hoisington, Kansas, on the 22nd of November, 1944. The traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Art (in the US Navy) was in a water tender school. After the school they traveled by troop train (the only woman onboard) to San Francisco, CA, where they stayed until he shipped out. Orders came fast and he called her to tell her he was leaving in a matter of hours. She bought a train ticket home to Hoisington, KS, traveling by herself where she waited for his return. He was gone one year and never saw her during her pregnancy or the birth of their first child who was born one day before their first anniversary.
She and Art lived all over the world. Because of his work they moved frequently living in Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Venezuela, South America, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tokyo, Japan and Cairo, Egypt. She was an active bridge player wherever they lived and made lifelong friends from all over the world. The retired in Norman, OK, to be near their children.
She was the loving wife of Arthur Gruber and mother of Cindy, Kent, and Chris.
She is survived by her husband Arthur Carroll Gruber of their home in Norman, OK. Also by her daughter Cynthia Jane Gruber Standridge and husband Roy of Lindsay, OK, and sons William Kent Gruber and wife Annette of Albuquerque, NM, Chris Jay Gruber and wife Kim of Gridley, CA.
She is also survived by; six grandsons, Scott Standridge & wife Shanna, Jay Standridge & wife Anna, Matthew Gruber, Jason Gruber & wife April, Lee Standridge & wife Ashley, and Kyle Gruber; and eight great grandchildren, Allie Standridge, Jake Standridge, Rex Standridge, Garet Standridge, Ryan Standridge, Tate Standridge, Rhet Standridge, and Knox Standridge; two brothers, Bob Welch and Jack Welch and wife JoAnn, all of Frankfort, KS; sisters-in-law, Barbara Welch of Pensacola, FL, and Thelma Brack and husband Glenn of Hoisington, KS; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Inez Jane (Jackson) Welch; one brother, Jim Welch; and one sister, Delmoine Welch Capps.
She was a member of the Eastern Star, a graduate of the Menninger Bible Course, an excellent seamstress, knitter, and homemaker. She was a Life Master Bridge Player. Betty was an active member of the McFarlin Methodist Church. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 12, 2015, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington.
Burial will be in the Hoisington City Cemetery.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, October 11, 2015, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the McFarlin Methodist Church, Norman, OK, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington KS 67544.
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net