Betty Jane Schneider, 96, of Topeka, Kan., passed away at 7:30 a.m. on January 4, 2019 after complications from a fall in her home on December 21, 2018.

She was born on April 24, 1922 in Topeka, the daughter of James LeRoy and Ella (Smith) Epling. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Ruth Epling and Ruby Cramer, and her brother Walter “Bud” Epling.

She was also preceded by Jim Ryan Jr., her companion for more than 40 years.

Betty Jane was married to Leonard Schneider on August 25, 1945 in Topeka. Leonard was killed in action on October 25, 1951 when his plane was shot down while he was serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War.

She is survived by two daughters, Dinah (Jim) Lane of Ozark, Mo., Cindy (Tom) Gish of Topeka, and four grandchildren, Bridgett (Ken) Bates of Stillwater, Okla., Kurtis (Shannon) Lane of Bluffton, S.C., Heather (Trent) Wachsnicht of Kansas City, Kan. and Tommy (Sarah) Gish of Lawrence, Kan. Betty has seven great grandchildren.

Betty Jane worked for Wichers Photography in downtown Topeka for 20 years.

Family will receive friends from 6:00pm to 8:00 pm Friday, January 11, 2019 at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave. Topeka, KS 66604. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 12, 2019 at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Topeka, KS.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Midland Care Hospice, 120 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606.

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