Betty Beck

On December 22, 2022, Betty Harlan Beck died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 98 after 18 months in hospice care. Betty was born on August 20, 1924, in San Saba, Texas, to Mary Elizabeth Baker Harlan, age 21, and Hunter House Harlan, age 28. Her parents divorced when she was 2 years old, and she only met her father on two occasions — at her high school graduation and when she departed for basic training in World War II.

Betty was raised during the Great Depression in the home of her grandparents James Hall Baker, Sr., and Elizabeth Gay Baird Herndon and her maternal extended family. Her aunt, Margaret Baker Mosley, and uncle, James Hall Baker, Jr., acted as her older siblings, while her mother traveled Texas for Union Gas giving cooking demonstrations to sell gas stoves.

Betty attended San Saba High School where she excelled in academics and athletics. Her academics were aided by the careful instruction in grammar and literature she received at the evening supper table from her grandfather. Her home had the best library in town where she and her friends gathered to study. She devoted hours to hitting tennis balls against the school wall to improve her stroke. Her hard work garnered her numerous UIL medals in: tennis, basketball, extemporaneous speaking, debate, and scholarship. She graduated in 1941 at age 17.

Intending to become a teacher, Betty attended North Texas Teachers College (now the University of North Texas) and graduated in 3 years in 1944 with a B.S. in Physical Education. While doing her in practicum, she discovered she did not like teaching children. So, she enlisted in the Army to become a physical therapist.

Betty enlisted and received her commission as a second lieutenant (age 20) before she was old enough to vote or drink alcohol. She completed her basic training at Ft. Benning, GA. She completed her physical therapy at Provost, Utah, which she always remembered with fond memories. She was enroute to the Pacific Theater by ship when Japan surrendered. She served as part of the U.S. Occupation Forces in Seoul, Korea, and 42nd General Hospital Tokyo, Japan.

In Korea, Betty met the “love-of-her-life”, William Stanislaus Beck — an intelligent, cocky and “street smart” medical supply officer, who had a loud mouth and a rapier wit. [Most of their marriage, Bill had to explain to Betty the meaning of adult jokes.] They toured the oriental sights together — including Shanghai, China, just weeks before it was taken by Mao’s communist forces. They became engaged while Betty was serving in Japan.

Betty returned home to San Saba, Texas, was discharged, and prepared for a small wedding in the family home. Bill could not get leave from duty, so they married on February 22, 1949, over the Washington’s Birthday holiday weekend. Just before walking down the aisle together, Betty confessed having “cold feet”. Bill pointed out that all the guests were her family to whom she would have to explain herself. The marriage ceremony went on without a hitch. They drove to San Antonio for a short honeymoon at the Robert E. Lee Hotel.

Betty had threatened not to marry Bill when he suggested becoming a mortician in Oklahoma. She insisted Bill transfer into the newly formed U.S. Air Force medical corps, and for 27 years she supported him as a military officer’s wife by maintaining a “home” for him and two rambunctious boys — through nine PCS moves in the first 12 years: Bangor, ME, Washington, D.C., San Antonio, TX, Columbus, MS, Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada, Roswell, NM and San Antonio, TX.

In addition, she was a “force of nature” in supporting her husband’s earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in hospital administration as well as pushing both of her sons becoming Eagle Scouts like their father.

Betty also volunteered her physical therapy skills to various charities helping disabled vets and children living with muscular dystrophy. After her sons had completed their college educations and were serving in the military (one as an Air Force JAG — the other an Army audiologist), Betty became a pillar of her churches — first at First Presbyterian Church, Orange, Texas; then at Northwood Presbyterian Church, San Antonio. She ably led bible study classes for more than twenty years.

Betty was much loved as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grand mother, and fierce friend. She loved to travel the world — Mexico, Canada, Germany, France, Austria, the United Kingdom, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand, Panama, Italy, Greece, Israel, Egypt, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. She was a skilled photographer and would host dinners and show her photos to her friends.

After Bill died in 1989, Betty expertly grew and managed investments for both herself and one son. She enjoyed world traveling, researching investments and the Bible; and reading murder mysteries.

In 2015, Betty broke her left leg and hit her head incurring severe injuries which forced her to abandon living on her own. She moved to Morningside Ministries’ Kaulbach Assisted Living. The last 18 months of her life she was bed-bound and in hospice because of her weak and erratic heart. The family is grateful for the kind and loving care Morningside provided her for the past seven years. Fortunately, she also had the companionship provided by Home Instead senior care. The family wishes to thank Erica Rios for the special care and love she provided.

Betty is predeceased by her husband, William Stanislaus Beck; her mother, Mary Elizabeth Baker Harlan; her aunt, Margaret Baker Mosley; her uncle, James Hall Baker, Jr.; and her grandparents, James Hall Baker, Sr., and Elizabeth Gay Baird Herndon Baker.

Betty is survived by her two sons, Bruce Harlan Beck and William Gregory Beck; and their two wives, Patricia Anne Fox Beck and Teresa Marie Kennedy Beck; four grandchildren, Julie Suzanne Beck Stubbs, Bryan William Leyenbeck (formerly Beck), Nicol Marie Beck and Erika Ann Beck Flores; four great-grandchildren, Meghan Stubbs, Jareth Brent Stubbs, Huck Leyenbeck, and Lola Leyenbeck. Betty is also survived by three step-grandchildren, Mickle Fox, Eve Delaney Fox Foxsmith (“Laney”) and Daniel Fox.

She is also survived by four step-great grandchildren, Patrick Foxsmith, Nathaniel Foxsmith, Mickle William Fox (“Liam”), and Zoe Cordelia Fox. [Having been raised as an only child, Betty was especially happy to find herself the matriarch of such a large family full of children.]

A memorial service will be held in Betty’s honor Saturday, February 18, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Northwood Presbyterian Church, 518 Pike Rd. San Antonio, TX 78209.

Interment will be at Fort Sam National Cemetery on February 22, 2023, at 11:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donation please be made to either Mission Personnel Support (E132192), Presbyterian Church (USA), or the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 100 E. 27th St., Austin, TX 78705.