NameBetty Rae Wilson
Birth28 Jan 1931, Middlebug, Loudoun Co., VA
Death17 Oct 2010, Port Angles, Clallam Co., Washington, USA
BurialOcean View Cemetery -Port Angeles-Clallam County-Washington, USA
Misc. Notes
Birth:
Jan. 28, 1931
Middleburg
Loudoun County
Virginia, USA
Death:
Oct. 17, 2010
Port Angeles
Clallam County
Washington, USA
Betty lived most of her years in Virginia. Her husband Bill, and son Clipper moved to Port Angeles in 1974. They were followed not long after by Betty's two older sons, Glenn and Larry Smithson. She lived for 4 years in Alaska after the death of her husband Bill. Her son Clipper went with her. After that she moved and then retired in Port Angeles, WA.
Spouses:
William Harvey Elder (1918 - 1980) Carroll Rodrock Smithson (1932 - 2007)*
Obituary
Betty's life: Betty Rae Elder was born in Middleburg, Virginia. She attended Middleburg Elementary and the went to Aldie High School, where she excelled in Scholastics and basketball. After graduation, Betty was accepted and attended James Madison University. While there, she entered the Miss Virginia Beauty contest and was first runner up. Following college she began her working career in the airline industry as an administrative assistant. She married Carroll "Smitty" R. Smithson in 1952 and had two sons, Glenn and Larry. They divorced in 1960. During their marriage she worked for a famous East Coast horse magazine located in Middleburg called the Chronicle of the Horse. She worked there from approx. 1954-1974. During the Kennedy Administration she met William "Bill" Elder. At the time he was part of the communication and secret service team that traveled with President Kennedy. Kennedy had a home in the area which made the happy union possible. They married in 1962 and had a son William "Clipper" Elder. They went on their honeymoon to the Worlds Fair in Seattle via the Airforce One. After Bill retired they moved to Port Angeles in 1974. She became a real estate agent and worked until 1980. After the death of Bill, Betty moved to Anchorage Alaska and brought Clipper and his best friend Derek Parrish with her. Betty again worked in real estate and became a broker. Betty built her dream home there. She retired in 1988 and moved back to Port Angeles. Betty at the age of 65 started working for Glenn and Larry at their restaurant "Smitty's" as the head caterer until it was sold in 2000. In her younger years Betty bowled on the pro circuit in Washington, DC. She sang and played the piano. She loved to cook and entertain. She and Bill would take friends out on their boat to fish or just cruise around. Betty was really into basketball and March Madness and was quite good at playing in the pools and picking the games.
Christmas by far was her favorite holiday. She loved the family gatherings and could be quite funny. from Paula Elder on ancestry.com