Rites held for Oleta Battershell

Oleta Pauline Battershell was born on October 30, 1930 in Sedgwick County, Kansas in the home of her parents Charles and Della Huebner. She departed from this Earth to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, January 16, 2023, in Holdenville, Oklahoma where she was a resident of Heritage Village Nursing Center for the last eight years.

She was known as Leta, Mrs. Battershell, or Grandma to all who knew her.

On December 5, 1948 in Wichita, Kansas she was united in marriage to Hendrix Eugene “Gene” Battershell. One child, Delores Lou, was born from this unity on January 24, 1950. The couple enjoyed 21 years of marriage until the passing of Gene.

During World War II, she answered her country’s cry for help. She served in the Women’s Air Corp (WAC). Education was a big thing in Leta’s life. After the death of her mother, she dropped out of school in the ninth grade to help support her younger siblings. She wanted her daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to achieve the educational opportunities that she was not able to.

In 1970, she relocated to Gerty, Oklahoma from Del City, Oklahoma following the brief illness of her husband. Shortly afterward she moved to Allen, where she was a resident and member of the Allen Church of Christ. In 1973, she started working as the custodian of her church and retiring in 1990. She was also employed as a housekeeper for many people in the community as well as a caregiver. She also volunteered for twenty-four years at the Nutrition Center in Allen.

Her greatest joy was her family and helping others whenever she could. She will be remembered for putting others before self and having a Servant’s Heart, cleaning her church (sometimes on short notice for a funeral or wedding), riding her bicycle, rollerblading, and picking up trash whenever she saw it, she’d say, “It is my job to keep our town clean.” She enjoyed spending time with friends and family, watching television, attending church services, and making potholders and quilt tops.

She was predeceased by her parents, siblings, husband, granddaughter, son-in-law, and daughter.

She is survived by her grandchildren Bobby Rose of Titusville, Florida, Ryan Rose of Allen, Oklahoma, and Rory Smith of Ada, Oklahoma; great- grandchildren Cobin and Ledger Smith of Wasilla, Alaska; sisterin- law Louise Howard of Oklahoma City; several nieces and nephews; special friend Dorothy Knighten of Allen; as well as members of the Allen Church of Christ and residents of Heritage Village Nursing Center.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday January 19th, 10:00 A.M., at the Gerty Cemetery with Reverend Mark Legg officiating.