Betty Cartnal Watts

Betty Cartnal Watts was born June 21, 1933 in Newark, Ohio to the late Jacob Franklin and Agnes M. (Fleming) Cartnal. She passed away on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at Altercare Newark South. She spent the evening before her passage with her family reminiscing about her.

Betty grew up on the family farm in Hanover, Ohio and was a graduate of Hanover -Toboso High School. Betty’s father, Jacob (Gabe) Cartnal, was a highly regarded driver and trainer of Harness Racing horses. Betty was completely immersed in the Harness Racing culture growing up on the farm. Her father and both brothers, Jacob H. and Kenneth, trained and drove Harness horses. They traveled all around Ohio, and the mid-west, to watch her family’s horses compete.

She was married to Charles William Watts on November 24, 1954, with whom she had two sons, Steven and Philip. They were married for sixty years. The family moved to the new farm in Granville in 1960 after the flood of 1959.  Starting in 1968,  Betty worked at Denison University,  the first  years in University General Administration, and then thirty years as secretary in the Physics Department, retiring in 2000.  After retirement, Betty and Bill enjoyed extensive travel across the states.  She loved gardening, Ohio sports teams, and attending grandchildren’s events.

A long-time member of the Centenary United Methodist Church, Betty participated in the Tulip Circle at the church.  In her later years, she was blessed to be able to remain on the family farm in Granville with cattle now replacing horses in fields.  She so enjoyed being at home looking out over cattle in the fields and having her cat ‘Holstein’ on her lap. She loved spending time with her family.

She is survived by two sons, Philip J. (Barb) Watts and Steven L. (Nance) Watts; grandchildren, Claire L. Watts, Gregory T. Watts, Brooke Thieken (Dan) and Brett Watts; several great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles William Watts, who died June 19, 2014; and by brothers, Jacob H. Cartnal and Kenneth Cartnal.

A graveside inurnment service celebrating the life of Betty will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 31, at Maple Grove Cemetery, Granville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Centenary United Methodist Church or to the Foundation for Hospice of Central Ohio.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Betty and her family.