Betty June (Ewing) Dome

Betty June Ewing Dome, formerly of Lynchburg, Ohio, died peacefully at home surrounded by family in Jensen Beach, Florida on August 19, 2021. Betty was born at home in Melvin, Ohio on February 19, 1923, with a mess of black hair, to Franklin Bryan and Mamie Margaret Adams Ewing. She grew up in Melvin with brothers John William (Billy) Ewing and Vaughan Franklin Ewing by her side.

Betty graduated from Reesville High School in 1941. As a teen, Betty helped at Pauline’s beauty shop and worked at Walter Curran’s tax office in Wilmington, Ohio. Betty was dating Paul Edwin Dome when he joined the Air Force to serve in World War II. On a short leave during basic training, Betty gave Paul an ultimatum. “Marry me or we are done!” And in one day all of the arrangements were made, including the infamous phoning of her parents and Mamie yelling upstairs, “Frank, you can’t go fishing tonight! We are going to have a wedding!” And, so, Betty and Paul were married on May 27, 1944.

After the war, Betty and Paul lived in Port William where Betty worked in the office of Port Feed Mill in Port William, Ohio, which they owned. Then came the blessed arrival of daughter, Nedra, followed by baby Nicholas who died the day after he was born, and the beloved arrival of son, Mark. Nedra and Mark grew up splashing in the pool in their backyard at Port William and later as teens into the quarry ponds beside their home in Hillsboro. Betty’s family grew exponentially when Nedra married Russell Edward Merker and Mark married Sharon Lynne McConnell and they were blessed with 6 grandchildren.

Despite being born without a hip socket and in her first cast at the age of 1, Betty went on to travel to the world. With Paul by her side, they traveled as far as the Great Wall of China, drove through the small towns of Ireland, and cruised to Cozumel for their 50th wedding anniversary with Nedra, Rusty, Mark, and Sharon. Not to be forgotten, Betty famously knitted baby booties for the birth of Prince William and personally delivered them to the gate of Buckingham Palace.

But perhaps their fondest travels were across the roads of the United States with Paul behind the wheel of their RV and Betty as his co-pilot with stops like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. RV trips were also the favorite memories of the grandkids, Heidi, Stacey, Christie, Mathew, Andrew, and Nicholas, who were all members of the Panda Bear Club. Together they would camp near the Indian mounds of Ohio and watch the outdoor plays. And, on occasion, the trips would be bigger to destinations like Chicago and Washington, D.C. to visit all of the sights.

Betty was known for her fried chicken and her pies. Every family celebration included a raspberry pie made with wild berries handpicked from the bushes surrounding their quarry in Hillsboro, and baked in her pink oven.

After more than two decades of living part time on Hutchinson Island, when Paul retired, they built their pink home on the Indian River and lived in their own piece of paradise. After 66 years of loving marriage, Paul died in 2010, followed by the death of precious daughter, Nedra, and son-in-law, Rusty. Also preceding Betty in death was the tragic loss of her granddaughter Stacey Dome and of great grand-baby, Noah Khambatta.

Betty continued to enjoy the simple pleasures in life like her daily crossword puzzle, her standing Thursday hair appointment, and never missing an episode of Days of Our Lives which she watched since the day it first aired over 50 years ago. She loved going to her favorite restaurant, the Prawnbroker, with Mark and Sharon and having her signature cocktail, a Manhattan. And don’t forget about the cards! Her game may have changed over the years from Canasta to Spite and Malice to Kings on the Corner, but nothing brightened her day more than winning a game!

Betty was most certainly the family matriarch that kept the family together like glue. Not only did she send cards for every birthday and anniversary, but she cherished each and every phone call and visit with family and friends. Her Christmas card list was longer than her age, and she carried each and every person in her heart! Most of all, the pictures and visits by her nine great grandchildren brought the biggest smiles to her face. And not to be forgotten, Betty was texting and checking Facebook daily!

Living to be 98 and 1/2 years exactly to the day, Betty is survived by her son Mark (Sharon) Dome of Wilmington, Ohio; granddaughters Heidi (Karl) Khambatta of Houston, Texas and Christie Dome of Cincinnati, Ohio; grandsons Mathew (Deborah) and Andrew (Amie) Merker of Atlanta, Georgia, and Nicholas (Liz) Dome of Portland, Oregon; great granddaughters Abbie and Jessie Duncan of Lafayette, Louisiana, Chloe Khambatta of Houston, Texas, Marlena Merker of Atlanta, Georgia, and Josie Dome of Portland, Oregon; and great grandsons Bryson Merker of Atlanta, Georgia, Mack and Nathan Khambatta of Houston, Texas, and Maximilian Merker of Atlanta, Georgia.

Betty June enjoyed more than 30 years of sunsets over the Indian River. One of her favorite songs was “You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine”. As the song goes, you’ll never know, dear, how much we love you.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association at heart.org.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 11:30 at Sabina Cemetery, in Sabina, Ohio.

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