Beth Hesselton

Beth is survived by her sister Patricia “Pat” Hudson Wilson of Dallas, Texas, and by her children, Victoria Morrow of Delray Beach, FL; Deborah Valencia (Arcesio, Sr), of Manta, Ecuador; Denise Hesselton (Laura), of Baltimore, MD; Traci Hesselton Herbold (Shane), of Stuart, FL; and David Hesselton (Brooke Bosch Maxwell), of Steamboat Springs, CO. She is also survived by her grandchildren Ryan Morrow, Carole Bolden, Michael Bush, Arcy Valencia Jr, Kasey Valencia, Lina Valencia, Layton Bush, Kellan Bush, Austen Herbold, and Megan Herbold. She also has several great grandchildren, including Jadence Stewart, Arcesio “Ace” Contreras, and Nolan Bush. She was preceded in death by husband Richard “Dick” Earle Hesselton; parents Cernal Heywood Hudson and Nellie Mae Smith Hudson; brothers George Edward “Eddie” Hudson and James “Jimmy” Ellis Hudson; and son Thomas John Bush, Jr.

Beth Hesselton was born on January 27th, 1933, in Panama City, Florida, to Nellie Mae Hudson (nee Smith) and Cernal Heywood Hudson. She served as an executive secretary in the US Air Force during the Korean War. She married Thomas Bush Sr in 1953 and they divorced in 1962. They had two children, Vicki and Tom Jr. Beth left the Air Force when she became pregnant, as was the policy at that time. In 1965, she married Dick Hesselton. They had four children, Debbie, Denise, David, and Traci. During her professional career, she was employed as an executive secretary for various companies. She retired from the City of Delray Beach utility billing department.

Beth loved gardening, especially bromeliads, which she gladly shared with anyone who wanted to start their own perpetual bromeliad nursery. She also enjoyed fishing, quilting, and crocheting, and was active in her neighborhood association. During the final years of her life, Beth was especially close to Judy and Lee Jones and enjoyed their company as well of that of other close family and friends.

Services for Beth will be held on September 6th at Kraeer Funeral Home in Deerfield Beach, FL, at 217 East Hillsboro Blvd. Visitation is at 11:30 am. The memorial service is at 12:30 PM, followed by the graveside service with military honors. Beth is being laid to rest in the Deerfield Beach Memorial Cemetery. There will be a reception to follow at 3 pm at 385 SW 27th Terrace, Delray Beach, FL, 33445. (Please parking in front and along the roadways with two wheels on the grass and two on the road with the direction of traffic.) All are welcome to attend and celebrate Beth’s life. Flowers and donations can be sent to Kraeer Funeral Home at 217 East Hillsboro Blvd, Deerfield Beach, FL, 33441, or dignitymemorial.com.