Betty Roberta Geller Gindes came into this world on February 7, 1921 in Los Angeles. Her parents were immigrants from Eastern Europe; her father was a tailor/dry cleaner/haberdasher and her mother worked with him and played piano during silent movies. Her youth was hard, going to school and working for her parents. When she was 19, a friend introduced her to a cousin and his friend, Philip Gindes. He knew at that moment she was the one. They were married 3 weeks after her 20th birthday. When the war came calling, Phil enlisted and she followed him first to Iowa, where he learned to be a navy engineer, and then to New York while he was stationed first at Newport, RI, and then while he was stationed in the Mediterranean theater. When he came back, they returned to Los Angeles to begin their family. In 1946, their first child Andrew was born. Betty nurtured Phil while he built his career in engineering, and nurtured Andrew to grow into an intelligent young man. In 1958, Lisa joined the family and again Betty showed herself to be a wonderful mother. Both Andrew and Lisa became lawyers and had their own families. She and Phil enjoyed traveling, especially on cruises, and often with friends. She also loved playing bridge and socializing with friends from her girlhood.
Betty and Phil moved to Colorado Springs in 1980, and soon thereafter, joined Temple Shalom. Betty was involved in Hadassah and the Sisterhood for many years. They also were on the Board of Trustees at National Jewish Hospital. Later, as Phil’s health declined, she once again took on the role of nurturing wife which took up much of her time. In 1999 Beverly Alexander came to help Betty take care of Phil and stayed, becoming a member of the family, caring for Betty after Phil left us in 2003. Jackie Dones joined her in 2005, and completed Betty’s circle of love.
Betty joined Phil and Andrew, her parents Frances and Sam Geller, and Aunts Beatrice and Mildred on January 19 2013, 19 days shy of her 92nd birthday. She is survived by Herb Geller (brother), Lisa Gindes Helker, Scott Helker (son-in-law) and Eleanor Beatrix Helker (granddaughter, age 9); Missy and Chad Ulmer (granddaughter and her husband) and Max Andrew Ulmer (great-grandson, age 1 month); Ian and Ann Gindes (grandson and his wife); Beverly Alexander and Jackie Dones (ageless angels).
Funeral Services will take place on Monday, January 28, 2013 at 11:00 am at Swan-Law Cascade Chapel, 501 North Cascade Ave. Entombment will take place following the services at Crown Hill Cemetery Tower of Memories, Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
Memorial donations may be made in Betty’s name to National Jewish Hospital or Jewish Family Services, in Denver.
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