Elizabeth (Betty) passed away quietly on Sunday, September 5, 2021. She was surrounded by her immediate family. She told all of her family months before she passed, “she had a great life; no regrets!”
Betty and her husband immigrated to the United States from Scotland, in 1960, and made a great life for their family. They settled in the Columbus area, and have had many great neighbors and friends throughout the years.
When her children were young, she was active with her church and started volunteering at Westgate Elementary School. Her eagerness and relationships with the students lead to a full-time job, as an elementary Library Aide, with Columbus City Schools. Betty worked as a Library Aide for 24 years, enjoying each school and all the teachers and students she met along the way. Betty most enjoyed the start of each school year, the turn of seasons from summer to fall and seeing all the children start school with their new school clothes and their innocent smiles.
Betty continuously remained active throughout the years with the Daughters of Scotland, serving as President and Past President. Each year the Daughters of Scotland would host a Robert Burns Banquet, which Betty would work tirelessly to help organize. She met some of her closest friends here.
It was also about this time, Betty became involved in theatre. She was in the chorus of a production of Brigadoon, where she earned the family nickname of “Betty Broadway”. She loved to dance and sing. She could cut a rug with the best of anyone and would break into song at any given moment. She often would practice and prepare songs for trips back to Scotland, when she would have the chance to karaoke.
Both Betty and her husband, Robert “Bert” of 51 years could most often be found at The Columbus Maennerchor or The Swiss Club to dance and listen to live big band music on Saturday evenings. There they met and made several lifelong friends.
Betty is survived by her daughter Deborah Miller, sons Richard Thom and Andrew (Janis) Thom along with her beloved grandchildren- Alex, Richie, Lindsey and Sydney. She adored each of them and looked forward to spending time with them laughing and making wonderful memories.
In addition, Betty will also be deeply missed by her remaining family around the world. She leaves family in Scotland- her brother, George Young, sister, Lilian (Roddy) Rafter, sister-in-law Pat (Alan) Young, and in Australia, sister-in-law Vera Thompson, as well as many nieces and nephews. Lastly but very importantly, Betty leaves behind her dearest and best friend of 50 years, Rene Paska.
Betty’s family will forever feel her absence and her vibrant and feisty personality. She will be welcomed with open arms by her husband, Bert, her forever dancing partner in life.
The family would like to express their thanks and gratitude to Capital City Hospice, who came in and took wonderful around the clock care of Betty during her last days. Capital City also took time to make sure that the surviving family members were all doing alright.
A memorial service for Elizabeth “Betty” Thom will be at 10am Saturday, September 18,2021, with visitation immediately following from 11am to 12pm at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST, 1740 Zollinger Road, Upper Arlington, Ohio. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Capital City Hospice, 2800 Corporate Exchange Drive, Suite 170, Columbus, Ohio 43231 https://www.capitalcityhospice.com/donate/, Alzheimer’s Association Central Ohio Chapter, https://www.alz.org/centralohio, or to the charity of your preference.
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