Elizabeth J. Oyler

Elizabeth (Betty) June Oyler, 90, of Goshen, passed away on March 8 at Goshen Hospital after health complications.

She was born Elizabeth June Leland to Laverne and Harry Leland on August 12th, 1935, in Birdseye, IN. Known as Betty to her friends and family, she graduated from Huntingburg High School in 1953, where she excelled in academics, played saxophone in the band, and was a spirited cheerleader.

Upon graduation, she left southern Indiana and traveled to school in Elkhart to train to become an X-Ray Technician. She worked as an X-Ray Tech at both Johnson County Memorial Hospital and Logansport Memorial Hospital. It was well known that Betty was one of the favorite technicians at Johnson Memorial. She was particularly skilled at getting high-quality x-rays with exceptional speed. Doctors would often ask her to come in for special cases, even when she wasn’t on call. While working her first X-ray job in Franklin, Indiana, she met a dashing young man named Fred Oyler. They married in Huntingburg, IN on September 5th, 1954.

Relocating to Russiaville for Fred's position as varsity basketball coach at Western, Betty began substituting. She so impressed the school’s principal that he persistently encouraged her to pursue a teaching career. Betty studied Elementary Education at Indiana University, earning her B.S. in 1972 before going on to complete her Master's in Education at Ball State. Her skill as an educator was evident long before she had a classroom of her own — she spent a decade as a highly sought-after substitute teacher at Western, building relationships and a reputation that made her a natural fit when she was ready for her own classroom. She began her official teaching career in 1972, going on to educate and challenge students at Western Elementary and Western Middle School for the next 25 years, retiring in 1996. She was awarded the Outstanding Retiring Teacher award from the Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Mrs. Oyler was a legend at Western Middle School, even as she returned to sub for another decade after retirement.

Betty witnessed extraordinary change across her lifetime — from outdoor toilets, stovetop-heated water, and wartime rationing in the 1940s, to today’s world of indoor plumbing, smartphones, and grocery aisles overflowing with abundance. She also survived one of Indiana's most devastating weather events, as she, Fred and the three children lost their home to the Palm Sunday tornadoes of 1965.

Bridge Club met frequently in Fred and Betty’s house for years. They also enjoyed hosting and playing many other kinds of card games. She and Fred loved traveling and took road trips to National Parks and other interesting landmarks. For many years they enjoyed extended stays in Gulf Shores, AL and Marco Island, FL. Fred and Betty were avid IU basketball fans—taping every game and attending as many as they were able. They also spent countless hours going to their grandchildren’s various events and activities over the years. Betty and Fred’s grandchildren fondly remember their consistent presence at birthday parties, sporting events, concerts, and graduations—they always did their best to be meaningfully engaged in their grandchildren’s lives. Betty was known for being independent and no-nonsense, yet full of spirit and fun. She was dearly loved by her family and will be greatly missed.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Fred (2013), parents Harry and Laverne Leland, sister Jeanne Sakel, and brothers David and Paul Leland. She is survived by her sister Carolyn Ostby of Louisville, KY; daughters Bethany (Greg) Hartman of Elkhart, IN and LeAnne Gormong of Arlington, VA and son Tim Oyler of Anderson, IN; seven grandchildren Cami (Jake) Brubaker; Cara (Chris) DuBois; Callie (Arron) Patrick; Kristin Weiss, Karissa (John) Simmons; Evan Oyler; Lucas (Marah) Oyler; and 19 great-grandchildren.

A private graveside service will be held in Greentown, and the family will host public visitation on Saturday, March 14 from 2:00–4:00 at Kokomo Zion Church, 5051 E. County Rd. 400 N.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Eastern Howard School Corporation (221 West Main Street, Suite One, Greentown, IN 46936) designated to the Fred and Betty Oyler Memorial Scholarship. Checks can be written and mailed to EHS Corporation with specific scholarship in the memo portion, or contributions may also be made through Venmo with this QR code.