Lynn was born on March 19, 1918 in Chicago, a daughter of John W. and Edna (Bell) Kenney. She married William “Bill” H. Barthold, Jr. on September 21, 1940 in Grosse Pointe, MI. She married Malcolm “Bill” C. Hettrick on October 8, 1960 in Chillicothe. He preceded her in death on June 15, 1999. She was very proud of Malcolm who, by himself, designed and built their very unique Japanese designed home in Peoria, as well as his own cabin sailboat.
Her parents; one son, Richard K. Barthold; and one sister, Elizabeth Farrington, who she loved speaking with every week of their lives, also preceded her in death.
She is survived by her daughter, Alice Barthold Davitt of Hawthorn Woods; sons, Charles W. Hettrick (Katrina) of Guangzhou, China and Brian J. Hettrick MD (Christina) of Salem, WI; daughter-in-law, Mary Ann Barthold of Murphys, CA; five grandchildren, Valerie Barthold Weld (Richard) and Charlie, Celeste, Celena and Chaz Hettrick; and nephew, Jack Farrington of New Jersey.
Lynn earned her Associates Degree from LaSelle Junior College in Auburndale, MA.
She loved to reminisce of the past, when she was a socialite in the New York and Boston areas. She was a “Belle of the Ball”. In years past, she ran in the same circles as the Kennedy’s and Hearst’s. She was very proud of her father who was the National Circulation Director for Hearst Newspapers and personal friend of William Randolph Hearst. Her husband, William H. Barthold, was son of the CEO of Central Illinois Light Company. She even had lunch with Ethel Merman at the Merman home.
She was a member and former secretary at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Peoria, retiring in 1980, after 20 years of service. She loved helping at church and it was her favorite place to be.
In her younger years, she enjoyed being an active member, volunteer and puppeteer in the Junior League of Peoria. She was a volunteer for the Peoria Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, where she acted as an assistant to the therapists. She was also very active in the Peoria Cornstalk Theatre, the Peoria Symphony Guild, her knitting club, the Creve Coeur Club and was involved in just about any other happening in town.
Lynn had a great love of music, especially Swing, and her favorite song was “Sugar Time Rag”. She collected…everything. She loved high-heel shoes, had hundreds of them and wore them all of the time, especially red ones. She also loved clip-on earrings and costume jewelry. She particularly enjoyed collecting Japanese items, figures, flowers and plants.
Lynn loved to find a bargain and pass her good fortune on. If she found a great deal on knives, she would purchase 20 or 30 of them and give them to all of her friends. She also loved to take pictures and pictures…and pictures.
Lynn told her friends that she was very proud of her children’s accomplishments. Rick was a highly respected businessman in California; Alice, a high school administrator in the Chicago suburbs; Brian, a family practice doctor in Wisconsin; and Chuck a Manager of Technical Services at Delta Faucet in China.
Her greatest gift was her love of people and family. She sacrificed to send her oldest son to Mexico Military Academy and would do just about anything to help her friends or anyone in need. She was a friend like no other. She was always the one who would reach out to help and lend a hand, when things were tough. Lynn was a happy, vibrant, energetic, “classy” lady, who was a devoted and caring friend to so many.
