Betty J. Bunch, 88, of Urbana, died peacefully Friday, March 18, 2011, at  8:45 p.m. in Mercy McAuley Center. She was born February 20, 1923, in Porter, Ohio, the daughter of Henry Smith and Sadie (Scott) Smith. Betty was married to the late Benjamin F. Bunch for 66 years whom she married March 17, 1943, at Fort Riley, Kan.

Betty was a graduate of Bidwell Porter High School. She was a Teacher Associate at the Urbana Junior High School and Urbana Local. Betty was a member of the Baha’i Faith. She enjoyed cooking, entertaining family, and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and a friend to many.

She is survived by daughter Myra and Edward Couts of Urbana; son and daughter-in-law, Stephen R. and Barbara Bunch of Urbana;  daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and James Mitchell of Gallipolis; six grandchildren, Matthew Bunch of Urbana; Jeffrey Mitchell and Brian Mitchell of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; William E. Couts of New Carlisle, Ohio; Carmen Couts Kurdziel of Arden Hills, Minn; Dr. Kristin Couts Barron of Santa Clara, Calif; great-grandchilden, Ryan and Jolene of Urbana, and brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Viola Smith of Porter, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Benjamin F. Bunch on March 22, 2009; infant daughter, Carol Bunch; sister, Bessie Maxine Greene; brother, Hubert Smith, and special sister-in-law Mary Smith.

The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m., Tuesday, March 22, 2011, in the Walter and Smith Funeral Home, 642 S. Main Street, Urbana, where funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 23, 2011. Burial will follow in Oak Dale Cemetery, Urbana.

Special thanks to the Mercy McAuley Staff for their heartfelt love and dedicated service to Betty during her stay.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Betty’s memory to Mercy McAuley Center, 904 Scioto Street, Urbana, Ohio, 43078 or to a charity of your choice.