Betty Kathleen Shultz

Betty K. Shultz, 84, died following a brief illness on December 22 at the Kingston Residence in Sylvania. Her death marked the end of a remarkable life as both a public official and a private individual.  Toledo voters were well aware of the “public” Betty Shultz, electing her to office over a continuous 35-year period.  Those who knew the “private” Betty knew her as a loving mother and grandmother and as a fiercely loyal friend. She was born February 27, 1930, to Leo and Mary Wood.   Betty grew up in south Toledo attending the former Wayne Elementary and St. Charles schools and graduating from Libbey High School in 1948.    Betty’s career in public service traces back to her 1974 election to the Washington local school board, a position she held for 19 years.  During that time, she served as the board’s president in 1978, 1983 and 1987. In 1985, she was named to the All Ohio School Board by the Ohio School Boards Association; and, in 1988, she received the Ohio County Superintendents Association’s outstanding leadership award. With the advent of Toledo’s new district system for City Council in 1993, Betty received the Democratic Party’s endorsement for District 5 in northwest Toledo.  She went on to win the seat in November and began her council career in 1994.  She was selected by the Democratic Party, at the time council’s majority political party, in 1997 to fill an at-large council seat.  She won election to the at-large seat three times and was prevented from running again because of term limits and retired in 2009. Betty called herself a “business” Democratic and fought for Toledoans who were unable or afraid to speak for themselves.  And, speak she did as the long-term chairman of Council’s environment, utilities and public service committee.  She was not afraid to ask the hard questions and, at times, was an out-right critic of the city administration. She also was a leading money raiser and a top vote getter among council members during her council tenure. Betty’s time as a “business” Democrat came to an end in 2003.  Announcing the Democratic Party had moved too far to the political left for her, Betty declared she was becoming a Republican.  Despite an unsuccessful run for Lucas County Treasurer in 2004, Betty ran as a Republican for her at-large council seat in 2005 and was re-elected. When she retired from office at the end of 2009, Betty was the longest serving female member of Toledo City Council, having served for 15 consecutive years, and her combined public service was the longest for a woman in Lucas County and among the longest for a woman in elected office in Ohio. One of her last public acts was to serve as honorary chairman of Mayor D. Michael Collins transition team a year ago. The “private” Betty married the late John Joseph Shultz in 1959.  Their 53-plus year marriage ended with his death in 2013.  John was Betty’s “silent partner” in her public life.  The couple had three children.  During his business career, John owned and operated the former Toledo Lumber and Millwork Co. on Laskey Road. As a young woman, Betty rose quickly through the ranks at Toledo’s Ohio Bell facility, starting as a telephone operator, rising to become one of the company’s youngest supervisors and instructors.  She left the phone company with the birth of her third child in 1966.  In 1980, Betty went to work for the Lucas County building regulation department and retired from that position in 1993. Betty cherished her time with family, especially with her six grandchildren.  She set extremely high academic and behavioral goals for her children and grandchildren.  Not surprising when you consider her tenure as a school board member.  One of her children said Betty was “my best friend, my harshest critic, my biggest fan, my role model and always my soft landing place.” Even as a private citizen, Betty continued to assist people who would call with problems related to city services by making sure the problems were brought to the attention of the city administration. Betty is survived by her children: Susan Gilmore, Thomas (Diana Carswell) Shultz, David (Vanessa) Shultz and former son in-law, Kevin Gilmore.  Also surviving are grandchildren: Mackenzie and Robert Gilmore; John, Owen, Colin and Brendan Shultz; and step grandchildren: Blade Carswell, Josh Dragun and Amy White. Additionally, she is survived by nephews and nieces: Robert Van Rynen, John Van Rynen, Robert Shultz, Sandy Shultz, Jeanne Gibson, Daniel and JeffreyWood and many great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her siblings: Kelly Van Rynen and Robert Wood The family will receive friends on Sunday from 5-8 p.m. and Monday from 2-9 p.m.at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W Sylvania Ave (west of Corey Rd.).  A memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church, 3030 Tremainsville Rd.  Rosary will be said Monday evening at 7:00 p.m.  Betty’s remains will make their final journey Tuesday morning from the Walker Funeral Home to St. Clements church prior to her funeral service.  Friends wanting to participate in the processional are asked to be at the funeral home by 10:15 a.m.  No graveside services will be held.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Toledo Humane Society, 1920 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee, OH 43537 or the University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft St., Toledo, OH 43606. Online condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com