Beatrice M. ‘Bea’ Rodeheffer: May 18, 1924 – Feb. 14, 2017

Beatrice M. “Bea” Rodeheffer, age 92, longtime Oak Harbor resident, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Summer Hill Assisted Living.

Mrs. Rodeheffer was born in Orrville, Ohio, on May 18, 1924, to Thomas and Pearl (Keefer) Murtaugh. She was raised in Orrville, and graduated high school there. Bea went on to attend and graduate from Ohio State University. She became an elementary school teacher, and taught second grade in Grove City, Ohio, for many years.

Bea married John Edward Rodeheffer in 1953. For a short time, the couple resided in Raleigh, N.C., eventually retiring to Kitty Hawk, N.C., in 1985. John passed away on Oct. 29, 1987. Bea eventually moved to Greenville, N.C., where she resided in an assisted living facility for four years. While in North Carolina, she was a member of the Duck United Methodist Church.

Bea moved to Oak Harbor in 2002 to be closer to family. She became an active member of the First United Methodist Church, and then later attended First Reformed Church. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma. Bea enjoyed bowling, beachcombing, making caramels, making afghans and working puzzles.

Bea is survived by her two sons, Tom (Cathy) of Mountain View, Calif., and Bill (Catie) of Oak Harbor; and four grandchildren, Jacob, Rebecca, John and Laura. In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by her siblings and other relatives.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at First Reformed Church. Pastor Matt Waite and Chaplain David Lura are co-officiating.

She will be buried next to her husband John in Pilger Ruhe Cemetery, New Knoxville, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the teacher’s organization, Delta Kappa Gamma, at www.dkg.org/DKGDONATE/

Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com