Betty Helen Donovan, of Garland, Texas passed away September 22, 2012 at the age of 79. She was born December 23, 1932 to Otto and Helen Dahlke in Buffalo, New York. She graduated Pre-Med from the Texas College of Mines (now UTEP) in El Paso. Betty married Lt. Billy Bennett Donovan on October 24, 1952 in El Paso, Texas, and spent the next several years traveling as an Army wife and mother. After Bill retired, she developed a passion for teaching, achieving a Master’s Degree and enjoying a career spanning more than 40 years - beginning teaching first grade in El Paso, and then finding her niche teaching special-needs children in Mobile (AL), and Rockwall, Plano and Dallas (TX). After retirement, Betty volunteered, finding ways to guide and mentor anywhere she was needed. Nothing slowed her down; “giving up” was not part of her vocabulary.
Betty loved life and lived every day to the fullest, as exemplified by her Betty Boop tattoo and red Mustang. She enriched many lives with her enthusiasm, compassion, and wonderful sense of humor. She cherished and supported her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and anyone else who was in need at any time. Everyone who met Betty became family to her.
Betty always had a great faith; she served as a Stephens Minister, and was a member of Resurrection Luther Church in Plano, Texas. She always believed things would work out for the best in the end if everyone just kept the faith and worked together.
Betty is survived by her brother and sister-in-law Richard and Phyllis Dahlke, sister-in-law Patricia Bays, children Cathy, Tim, Deedee, Pat, Bethany, Dustin and Melina, daughters-in-law Sandie, Monny, and Gail, sons-in-law Josh and Clay, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind a very long list of “adopted” family and friends across the country. She will be greatly missed by one and all.
A memorial service will be held 7:00 p.m., Saturday, October 13, 2012 at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 1919 Independence Pkwy,Plano, TX 75075, 972 867 0460. Inurnment will be held at 2:30 p.m., Friday, November 9, 2012 at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Road, P. O. Box 6342, Fort Bliss, TX 79906, (915) 564-0201.