Betty I. Firth

Betty I. Firth, 101, passed away February 11, 2026. Born in Akron, she lived most of her life in Tallmadge.

Betty went back to school in her 40’s to become a LPN and retired from Robinson Memorial Hospital. She was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Victory and the Squad at Goodyear Aircraft.

Betty was kind and caring, who put the needs of her family before her own. She was a strong woman who faced every challenge in her life with courage and dignity. While her husband was in WWII, Betty taught herself how to drive and worked as a Rosie the Riveter. She saved enough money to buy land in Tallmadge, where her husband built the house and raised six children.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis; parents, Fred and Lura Gates; infant son, Timothy Firth; daughter, Rebecca Mishler; grandson, Christopher Messina; sisters, Helouise Gates, Lola DeMarco, Madelyn Brinkley; brothers, Gerald Gates, Kenneth Gates, Paul Gates, Samuel Gates, William Gates; daughter in law, Theresa Firth; and son in law, Paul Haralson

Betty leaves many behind to mourn her loss: her daughters, Nancy Haralson, Kimberly (Dave) Freiman; sons, Daniel (Flos) Firth, Michael (Carole) Firth, Kirk (Kimberly) Firth; grandchildren, Tammy (Rusty) Haught, Dustin (Trish) Haralson, Josh (Shelly) Messina, Ashley (Jason) Zuponcic, Kevin Freiman, Brian (Shannon) Mishler, Chris (Carrie) Firth, Jeff (Alipsa) Firth, Chad Firth, Christina Firth, Adam (Monica) Firth, Jamie (TJ) Vargo; 13 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be 4:00 until 6:00 p.m., Monday, February 16, 2026 at the Donovan Funeral Home, 17 Southwest Ave. (On the Historic Tallmadge Circle).

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at Our Lady of Victory, 73 North Ave., Tallmadge with Rev. Michael Williamson officiating. Procession to form at the church.

Interment will be at Tallmadge Cemetery.