Janet Winifred Bez Ebert
August 29, 1935 - August 13, 2022
Dr. Janet “Jan” Winifred Bez (Betz) Scanlin Ebert died at her home August 13, 2022 at age 86. She was born August 29, 1935, at (old) St. Ann’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, to Dr. Paul Gustav Bez and Winifred Miller Bez, and grew up in Bexley, Ohio. Her father died in 1940, and her mother married Dr. Karl G. A. Busch in 1942. She is survived by her children Richard Alan (Lisa Silverman) Ebert, James Paul Ebert and spouse Gary E. White, Jr. Her step-children are: William Karl Ebert, Elizabeth Ebert (Eric) Bertrand and Charles Edward Ebert. Grandchildren include: Rachel Ann Ebert, Brandon Alexander Ebert, Aurora L. Ebert, Aleigha A. Ebert, and step-granddaughter Caren Elizabeth Bertrand. Janet was happy also to be “Grandma” to Orion Dutko, Olivia, Matthew, and Luke Scott. Sister-in-law Jan Lynne Scanlin Swain also survives. She is pre-deceased by her parents and much-loved step-father, her husband, Professor Harry Edgar Ebert and former husband, Jerome Wells Scanlin, her brother Paul Guilford (Margaret Freyberg) Betz, her step brothers and sisters and their spouses: Dr. Karl Henry (Helen Montague) Busch, Henrietta Busch (Anthony B.) Baynard, Dr. Daniel A. (Emilie Finch) Busch, Frieda Busch (Welles) Jackson, and her step-daughter Dr. Patricia Dorothy Ebert Heiman.
Janet’s family, including aunts, uncles and cousins, was beloved, as were the ensuing generations. She celebrated with nieces and nephews, “greats” and “steps” and younger family cousins. She cherished friends, classmates, students and colleagues. She loved writing family history, and enthused over anything Ohio State! She earned B.S.in Ed., M.A. and Ph. D. degrees at The Ohio State University. A 1953 graduate of Bexley High School, she served as her class historian and published several “Class Memory Books.” Her younger years included High School Band (flute/piccolo), Orchestra (violin), Choir, Girls Ensemble, Columbus Girl Choir and Select Choir, musicals and a summer at National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan, where she studied piano, flute and violin, and performed in the H.S. Band, H.S. Choir, Select and Worship Choirs. She enjoyed writing, and wrote seven plays and one operetta, which were commissioned and performed. She also composed music and published a book of songs for children. Janet gave many speeches and performances in locales in the U.S. and Canada.
Janet was best known for her passion for music and teaching. She shared her music with students and others through recitals, weddings and special occasions. She began private teaching in 1952, and maintained a teaching and performance studio until recently. She began her career in 1956 as a music educator and taught bands, orchestras, general and choral music in public schools: County Schools: Willshire, Elm Valley, Miami East, Graham and Northeastern; Springfield City Schools and at Urbana University, until a blood clot removed her from the classroom. Her Urbana College Choir made several tours on the East coast, as well as Chicago, Detroit and Windsor, Canada; St. Louis and Kansas. The band toured regularly to area schools. She had great pride in her students.
Her love for “TBDBITL” – The Ohio State University Marching Band – may have been her best- known joy. She was elected Secretary of the TBDBITL Alumni Club when it first organized and served in that capacity for twenty some years. Since that time she has served as Historian. Probably her greatest thrills included being invited to be the first woman to march (with the Alumni Band) in the Stadium in 1973. Ten years later, she was the first woman to direct the National Anthem in the stadium (Oregon game). In addition to those experiences, Jan was a member of the OSU Concert Band Alumni (Secretary), OSU School of Music Alumni Society (President/Secretary), Champaign County OSU Alumni (Secretary/President) and was an officer in two music honoraries, Delta Omicron and Tau Beta Sigma. She also has played in the TBDBITL Alumni Band on alto horn (with an occasional piccolo solo) since 1972.
She performed in the OSU Concert Band, and Orchestra, Collegium Musicum, University Singers, and OSU summer band, orchestra, choirs, the Springfield Symphony, and several Musicians Union Bands In those groups she played a variety of instruments, flute, piccolo, alto flute cello, baritone horn and percussion. She also directed church choirs, and served as pianist/organist in several venues. She was a dedicated Christian, participating in church events, especially at the First Presbyterian Church in Urbana. A member there since 1970, she directed instrumental and choral groups, served as an Elder, and on several committees and provided scripts for Homecoming and Celtic Sundays.
Janet participated in many community groups, especially Urbana Chapter Daughters of The American Revolution (Vice Regent, Regent, Honorary Regent), the Kenton Corridor, Champaign County Retired Teachers Association (President, Vice President), Champaign County Youth Choir (co-founder), and Champaign County Cemetery Restoration Project (co-founder, CEO/President). She also served two terms as a State Chairman in the Ohio Society DAR, and was Chaplain of the State Officers Club. She performed on flute, piano and piccolo at the Continental Congress of National Society DAR. She was an associate member of DAR Chapters Franklinton and Lagonda. She also was a member of the Columbus (Ohio) Colony of the Society of Mayflower Descendants, serving as a member/Chairman of the Scholarship Committee for several years. Many awards were presented to her by various groups during her lifetime.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the First Presbyterian Church of Urbana Scholarship Fund and/or The Ohio State University Alumni Club of Champaign County Scholarship Fund First Presbyterian Church, 116 West Court St, Urbana, Ohio 43078 937-653-4225 Ohio State University Alumni Club of Champaign County champaignco.alumni.osu.edu
Janet wished once more, through her obituary, to proclaim her love for all of those persons who touched her life in so many ways. She loved her fellow inhabitants of the earth, and cherished her many joyous experiences shared among them. She adds, “God Bless You All.”
A gathering will be held from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2022 in the Vernon Funeral Home, Urbana, Ohio. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, August 19, 2022 in the First Presbyterian Church, Urbana. In addition, Livestream will be available on the funeral home Facebook page beginning at 9:55 am.
Burial will follow in Glen Rest Memorial Estate, Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
Jan was a member of the marching band from 1954 through 1956. She was Secretary and Librarian.
Jan was one of the moving forces at the founding of TBDBITL Alumni Club. In her role as club Secretary, she painstakingly created what is now the “Grand Roster”. She scoured old grade books and rosters, carefully noting each member from 1878 onward.
In 1986, Jan received the “Script Ohio Award” for lifetime achievement and in 2005 Jan was the recipient of the “Elvin Donaldson Most Inspirational Alumni Band Member” award.
