Betty M. (Burkhart) Baumgardner

Betty Baumgardner, 88, Windber, formerly of Johnstown, died August 31, 2019 at Windber Woods. Born March 8, 1931, to Loretta and Robert Burkhart of Johnstown, PA.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husbands Robert D. Harbaugh and Donald G. Baumgardner, “The only two men she ever dated and she married them both.” as she liked to say; brothers Jack, Robert and Herbert (Gloria); a sister, Joyce Gindlesperger (Ron) and daughters, Patricia Alwine (Gary) and Janette Clark (Tom).   She is survived by children Deborah (Joseph Richards), Vicki (David Karnes), Robert Harbaugh (Mardena), and Dawn (Gary Morningstar),  grandchildren Joseph Richards (Amanda), Christopher Richards (Lauren), Jonathan Richards (Michele), Matthew Karnes (Diane), Heather (Ron Wilson), Hope (Rick Heintzman), Brittany Clark, Brandon Clark, Robi Lynne Harbaugh and Hailea Renea Morningstar; sisters Jean (Arthur Bowman), and Jane (Paul McDaniel); as well as several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and brothers and sisters-in-law. Betty was a true homemaker, skilled in knitting, cooking, baking and pretty much any craft she put her mind and hands to, even knitting a wedding gown at the request of her daughter Patty.  She was an excellent seamstress, making much of her own and her families clothing, and tailoring purchased items to fit, a talent she learned from her late Aunt Vera Rager, to whom she was particularly close. She took pride in keeping a beautiful home, and was never happier than when it was filled with friends and family, especially grand children, and particularly at the holidays when she decorated every nook and cranny of every room.  She also had a lifelong love of dolls, which she grew into a home business for a time, learning how to pour, fire, and paint porcelain dolls and teaching others to do so. She would then dress them in beautiful hand made outfits. Betty and her first husband, Robert were married in 1950, living for a time in the Johnstown area, and she spoke often and fondly of days spent at the Harbaugh farm in Newry, (King) PA with her mother-in-law, Lela, baking sticky buns, apple dumplings and stacks of pie crusts to fill the freezer. Later, she and Bob relocated to Tiffin, Ohio where he worked for National Machinery, and they lived there for the remainder of their too short seventeen years together, raising their two children, Deborah and Robert, until Bob’s death in 1967. A young widow, she returned to Johnstown to be closer to family, and several years later met Don through mutual friends. In 1971 she married him and his four daughters, joining their two families together. They’d been married for nineteen years at the time of his death in 1990. In earlier days, she and Don enjoyed entertaining family and friends at their cottage on Lake Stonycreek.  They also loved camping, traveling, golf and bridge, which Betty continued to play with friends for many years. She was always willing to lend a helping hand or a willing ear to anyone in need. She was taken from her family way too soon after a lengthy battle with dementia, and we will miss her terribly. Betty was of the Lutheran faith. Friends received 6-8PM Wednesday at Henderson Funeral Home-East Hills, 2503 Bedford St., where funeral service will be held Thursday at 10AM with Pastor William Beck officiating. Interment, Forest Lawn Cemetery.In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s foundation or Windber Hospice in Betty’s memory.

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