Betty Jane (Wenger) Hirt

Betty Jane Hirt (nee Wenger), 94, of Leland, NC formerly of Supply, NC passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 2, 2026, in the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, Brunswick House following a time of declining health.

Betty was born in Cleveland, Ohio on January 15, 1932, and a daughter of the late Clarence W. Wenger and Grace Fisher Schultz.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 42 years, Howard George Hirt, Sr., and sisters, Dorothy Russler and Evelyn Turk, both of Cleveland, OH.

Betty was retired from BP (British Petroleum) after 30 years of loyal service. She was an active member of the Order of The Eastern Star, Brunswick Chapter 341, and was very active as a member of TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) in Supply.  One of her passions was collecting dolls.  When in Cleveland, she also took many classes to create porcelain dolls, and made a variety of other items of porcelain, such as dishes, animals, decorations, etc.  She was also passionate of animals, especially dogs.  Seeing a dog would make her eyes light up, so in her life, there were many four-legged partners, as well as a trail of stuffed ones, too.  Many times Betty & Howard visited the Brunswick County Animal Shelter in Supply to play & comfort the dogs there.

Surviving are a step-son, Howard G. Hirt, Jr. (Rebecca) of Granite Falls, NC; two step-daughters, Lois Jean O'Neal of Villiarica, GA, and Susan Parker of Knoxville, TN; four nieces, Gail R. Meyer of Leland, NC, Bonnie Turk of Medina, OH, Judy Duncan and Gail Holmes of Summerville, SC., and nephew, Dale Turk of Seville, OH. 

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in the Brunswick Memorial Gardens Community Mausoleum. Services will be conducted by the Eastern Star, Lodge # 341. Inurnment will follow in the columbarium beside her husband. 

The family respectfully requests that donations be made in her name to “Paws Place Dog Rescue”, P.O. Box 67, Winnabow, NC 28479, https://pawsplace.org/ or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place • Memphis, TN 38105, https://www.stjude.org/ .

Online condolences are encouraged and may be sent to the family at www.fulwoodfuneralservice.com

Michael J Fulwood Funeral & Cremation Service