Betty Louise Workman

Betty Louise Workman (1936–2024)

Betty Louise Workman, 88, of Catlin, Illinois, she went home to be with her lord on November 28, 2024.

She was born at home in Vermillion County, Indiana on August 22, 1936 to Clarence Mullins and Mary Louise Kinderman Mullins. She grew up in the rural community outside of Newport, Indiana. She graduated from Newport School before enrolling in Ball State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and English in 1958. During that time she married Franklin T Kyger in 1956. They had four children: Mary Lynn, Tamra Louise, Jeffrey Lee, and Laura Lynette. While raising her children, she taught English and Business at Georgetown High School (Illinois). After earning her Master of Education Degree in Education and Business at the University of Illinois Urbana she taught English for Danville Community College and eventually at Lincoln Land Community College. She went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Literature and English from Sangamon State University and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Illinois State University. She was the Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences and then the Vice President of Academic Services for Columbia State Community College (Tennessee). And in 1997, moved to West Virginia to become the provost of Marshall University Community and Technical College. She finished her career at Richland Community College as Vice President of Academic Affairs in 2001. During her career she served in many professional and civic organizations such as Kiwanis Club, Chambers of Commerce, American Association of Women in Community Colleges, Illinois Community College Board, Tennessee College Association, and wrote a number of publications in her field. 

April 28, 2001, she married her high school sweetheart Donald Workman. He joked that it took them 46 years to get married. Unfortunately, their time together was too short and Donald passed in October of 2001.

Betty loved baking, gardening, painting, music and the fine arts. She enjoyed traveling to visit her children and grandchildren. She delighted in taking her grandchildren out to experience the world by going to museums, plays, music concerts, and nature hikes (even whitewater rafting and a submarine ride).

Betty will always be remembered for her lifelong love of learning and willingness to live life. Even in retirement she never slowed down. She continued to participate in learning by being an active member of the Lincoln Land Community College Academy of Lifelong Learning as well as serving as a member of its board. She was also a member of Georgetown Friends Church. She was an amazing pillar of strength and poise. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Donald Workman, her parents Clarence and Mary and her siblings Beverley Mullins, Beulah Mullins, Sayre Dale, Barbara Brown, Reggie Mullins, and a great granddaughter Mary Walpole. She is survived by her siblings Deanna Young, Shirley Ellinger, and Glen F Fulton and by her children Mary Lynn Emerick (Oscar), Tamra Louise Harrell (Peter), Jeffrey Lee Kyger, Laura Lynette Scheidell (Jeff). Betty was also survived by her 11 grandchildren: Amy, Kimberly, Ashley, Deanna, Chelsea, Johanna, Mikaela, Samantha, Ryan, Russell, and Camden; and 11 great grandchildren: Cody, Ellis, Timothy, Autumn, Izzabella, Alexander, Makayla, Olivia, Kennedy, Emmett and the eleventh on the way.

Visitation will be on December 3 starting at 10:00 am (Eastern Time) at Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center’s DeVerter Chapel (215 North Division Street, Cayuga, Indiana 47928). The funeral service will start at 12:00 pm (Eastern Time) followed by burial at Thomas Cemetery (1120 IN-71, Newport, Indiana 47928). In lieu of flowers, donations to the Georgetown Friends Church (301 South Main St, Georgetown, IL 61846) or Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) would be greatly appreciated.