Elizabeth A. "Betty" Maloney

The debut of the movies The Ten Commandments and Hunchback of Notre Dame were released in 1923. The year was also remembered for the first baseball game at the newly constructed Yankee Stadium, insulin introduced for the treatment of diabetes, Warner Brothers was established and the first issue of Time Magazine was released. In technology, the world's first domestic refrigerator was sold in Sweden and the first portable radio was developed in the U.S. That same year on August 16, Mathias and Dorthea Dora A. (Fortman) Vonder Haar were pleased to announce the birth of their third born, Elizabeth A. Vonder Haar. She was born at St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

She grew up on West State Street in Fort Wayne. While growing up her mother began teaching her the skill of sewing that would last a life time. She had perfect attendance by the time she graduated from Northside High School and was proud to have been awarded sharpshooter for an extra curricular activity in the school's basement. Following high school, she worked as a telephone operator before working at General Electric during World War II.

Through some friends, Betty met the man who would change the rest of her life. Even though Ralph F. Maloney was sent off to serve in the military during WWII, he never forgot about her. Upon returning home, he sought her out and showed up surprising her. The two would be married on September 13, 1947 at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in Fort Wayne.

Betty became a full time homemaker when her and Ralph became parents. They would welcome five children into the home, Kathleen, Dennis, Joyce, Matt and Joe. As most of the children were growing up, they would spend time at their cottage in Angola. With the exception of Kathleen who was already married, the family moved to El Paso, Texas in 1969. Betty and Ralph would eventually call Amarillo their home.

While living in Amarillo, Betty was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and St. Ann's Sewing Circle at St. Mary's. She was quite talented when it came to sewing, knitting, needle point and crafts, which she also enjoyed doing. Betty and Ralph made a few memorial traveling trips including a trip to Alaska and Rome.

Life would change forever on February 19, 2009 when Ralph passed away. As her health declined, Betty made the decision to return home to Indiana and moved into Oak Pointe Assisted Living in Columbia City in November of 2014. She remained there until February when she went to Miller's at Oak Pointe nursing home. While living in Columbia City, she was a member of St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church. At 9:31 am, on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, Elizabeth A. Maloney, 94, passed away at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne with family at her side.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Yarrington of Nokomis, FL; a son, Dennis (Gayla) Maloney, of Amarillo; a daughter, Joyce (Mark) Linder of Columbia City, Indiana; A son, Matt (Shelley) Maloney of Los Lunas, NM; a son, Joe (Tina) Maloney of Amarillo; eight grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.

She was preceeded in death by her parents, Mathias and Dora Vonder Haar; her husband Ralph, brothers, Werner Vonder Haar and Maurice Vonder Haar and sisters, Rita Witte and Ruth Blucher.

Rosary and visitation will be at 6:00 pm, Friday, May 25, 2018 at LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Coulter Road Chapel and Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, May 26, 2018 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church with Father John Valdez as Celebrant. She will be laid to rest beside her husband in Memory Gardens Cemetery.

The family suggest donations to St. Mary's Cathedral School Amarillo, Parkview Hospice of Fort Wayne or knit/crochet newborn hats for Parkview Family Birthing Center. Visit and send condolences online at www.lagroneblackburnshaw.com.