Betty Marie (Kinsey) Deardorff

Betty Marie (Kinsey) Deardorff, 92, loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt, passed peacefully into the merciful arms of her Savior Jesus Christ on April 16, 2026, in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Born on November 3, 1933, at her family home in Dover, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late John B. Kinsey (d. 1986) and Mabel Ann (Shaub) Kinsey (d. 2001).

Betty was the beloved wife of the late Floyd Calvin Deardorff (d. 2020), whom she married on September 4, 1954, in York, Pennsylvania. Together, they built a life centered on faith, family, and enduring love.

Survivors: She is survived by her children: Linda Jean Deardorff Cunningham; Karen Ann Deardorff Dowbnia (Albert Robert Dowbnia); and John Floyd Deardorff (Robin Yerich Deardorff). She was a proud grandmother to Kristine Lynn Cunningham Klovach (Bradley Klovach), Kelly Ann Cunningham Herrera (Ruben Herrera), Alex Gregory Dowbnia, and Adam John Dowbnia, and great-grandmother to four great-grandchildren. Betty was a loving matriarch to her extended family. She was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Robert Charles Cunningham (d. 2012).

Betty is also survived by her sister, June Ann Kinsey, and was preceded in death by her brothers, Harold Lewis Melendon Kinsey (d. 2020) and Robert John Kinsey (d. 2021).

She grew up on a farm in Dover, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Dover High School in 1951. She went on to earn her nursing degree from York Hospital School of Nursing in 1954. While she devoted many years to her role as a homemaker and mother, she later worked alongside her husband in the operation of Axelrod Pharmacy in Flemington, New Jersey.

Betty and Floyd raised their family in Ewing Township, New Jersey, later moving to Flemington, New Jersey, and eventually settling at Moravian Hall Square in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

Her faith was central to her life. Betty was a devoted member of several congregations over the years, including Calvary Lutheran Church and Dover Church of the Brethren in Dover, Grace Lutheran Church in Trenton, Flemington Presbyterian church in Flemington, and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Nazareth. She faithfully brought her children to church, read her Bible daily, and found joy in singing in the choir. Her favorite hymns included “Jesus Loves Me” and “The Old Rugged Cross.”

Betty will be remembered for her strong spirit and lively personality. She had a competitive nature and delighted in games of all kinds—including bridge, pinochle, mahjongg, Chinese checkers, and Yahtzee—always playing to win. She was also known for her warmth and hospitality, especially her cooking and baking. Her homemade pies and famous iced tea were cherished by family and friends, and her home was the setting for many treasured Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings.

She and her husband shared a love of music and dancing, especially to big band classics, and enjoyed extensive travel throughout the United States and abroad, including visits to Israel, China, Turkey, Germany, and London. For many years, they hosted their family for a week each summer in Ocean City, New Jersey, creating memories that will be treasured for generations.

Betty also gave back to her community through volunteer work, including at a church-run shelter for battered women during her years in Flemington. She enjoyed attending minor league baseball games—especially the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Allentown—as well as trips to New York City, where she and her husband attended shows, visited museums, and enjoyed fine dining.

Above all, Betty’s life was guided by her Christian faith, the Ten Commandments, and her deep commitment to raising her children with love, discipline, and purpose. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 12:00 noon at Bartholomew-Schisler Funeral Home, 211 E. Center Street, Nazareth, PA 18064. Friends and family are invited to call from 11:00 am-12:00 pm, immediately prior to the service. Interment will take place at Greenmount Cemetery in York, Pennsylvania, on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 12:00 noon. Online condolences may be shared at www.schislerfuneralhomes.com .

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Betty’s name to Covenant House Pennsylvania (York), which provides shelter and support for youth experiencing homelessness. Donations may be made online at covenanthousepa.org (please designate “York”) or mailed to Covenant House Pennsylvania, 307 E. King Street, York, PA 17403.