Obituary - Betty Jo Mitchell Wareham-Sahler

Betty Jo Mitchell Wareham-Sahler died on May 28, 2014 in Hanover, PA.  She was 88 years old.

Born on November 18, 1925 to Harland and Vera (Berlin) Mitchell in Indiana, PA, she graduated from Oil City High School.  She graduated with a degree in music education from Indiana State Teachers College (now known as IUP).  She received Masters Degrees in Music Education from Penn State and in Musicology from Carnegie Mellon University.  She married Duane E. Wareham in 1949.  After being widowed in 1979, she married Charles E. Sahler in 1992.

Betty Jo taught music at Cranberry Township in Venango County and New Kensington School District.  She spent the majority of her career building the choral program at Penn Hills School District, which was known state-wide for its excellence.  She was also a composer and vocal coach.  

Betty Jo was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma and Delta Kappa Gamma sororities.  She was also a member of Pennsylvania Music Educators (PMEA) and of the National Educators Association (NEA).  She was a percussion instructor for the Red Knights Tarentum Drum and Bugle Corps in the 1950’s, served on the Board of Directors of the Rachel Carson Homestead Association, and volunteered with Recordings for Recovery, a music therapy organization, and the New Kensington Civic Theatre.   She was active throughout her life at Springdale United Presbyterian Church, Bakerstown Presbyterian and First United Methodist Church of Deland, FL.

She is survived by her children,  Barry (Rebecca) Wareham of Littlestown, PA and Wendy Wareham, Pittsburgh, PA; two grandchildren, Alicia (William) Jones of New Rochelle, NY and Erica (Alan) Keller of Cincinnati, OH. She is also survived by her Sahler step-family - Rick and Elaine, Darin, Shawna, Java and Reneé.  She was preceded in death by her spouses, Duane E. Wareham and Charles E. Sahler.

Friends and relatives will be received during a Memorial Visitation at the BURKET-TRUBY FUNERAL HOME CREMATION & ALTERNATIVE SERVICES, INC. 421 Allegheny Avenue, Oakmont on Friday, July 11 from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, July 12 from 10-11 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m.in the funeral home.  

Memorial gifts can be sent in memory of Betty Jo to PHAME Scholarship, c/o Barb Spiri, 114 Mardi Gras Dr, Pittsburgh, PA, 15239.