Betty Smith was born February 6, 1921 in Altoona, PA to Mary Gertrude Beard and Howard Samuel Jenkins. She entered rest on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at the age of 90. Betty graduated from Altoona High School in 1938 and enrolled in nurses training at Altoona Hospital where she graduated three years later on May 21, 1942. In November of 1956 she began her civil service career at Harlingen AFB where she was a court stenographer. When Harlingen Air Base closed in 1961 her husband was transferred to Randolph AFB here in San Antonio, where he eventually retired and she again worked in civil service. She was very quiet about her accomplishments over the years with her work with MIA and POW families. She grew very close to these families and them to her. She received many outstanding performance awards throughout her career and received a medal from the Department of the Air Force for Meritorious Civilian Work at her retirement in 1981. Although her department was physically located on Randolph AFB, her office worked directly under the Pentagon. During Betty’s career, she served under Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and served for 37 days under President Ronald Reagan until her retirement on February 27, 1981 at the age of 60. She spent many of the early retirement years caring for her husband. Following his death, she became active in many organizations and volunteered many hours at Brooke Army Medical Center in the chaplains office and for the Fischer House. She was active in many organizations, including the Republican Party, attending state conventions, Precinct Chairman for many years, Bexar County Republican Women, secretary of her neighborhood association, Volunteer for San Pedro Playhouse, Social Chairman for NARFE, her Nurses Association, Business Women’s Association, Society of Military Widows, Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW and was a member of the Beitel Lutheran Church. There were other organizations and activities too numerous to mention. She gave back to the community, and most of her volunteer work began when she was 70 years old. Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 46 years, Edward T. Smith. She is survived by her daughter Maryann Smith Tumlinson and her husband James; grandchildren, Betty Tumlinson, Jim Tumlinson and wife Christi, Brenda Tumlinson Harkness and husband Bill; great-grandchildren, Melissa Tumlinson Cawood and husband Ben, Josh Tumlinson and wife Laura, Jessica Tumlinson, Brittney Harkness Cohorn and husband Patrick and Brooklyn Rae Harkness; great, great-grandchildren, 5 year old twins, Victoria and Kayleigh Cawood, 2 year old Halle Noel Cohorn and 1 year old Connor James Cawood; and many dear friends. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 20, 2011 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Sunset Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held on Monday, November 21, 2011 at 10:00am, at Beitel Lutheran Church, 2515 Austin Highway, San Antonio, TX 78218, with burial to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Beitel Lutheran Church. You are invited to offer condolences at www.sunsetfuneralhomesa.com
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