It is with great sadness, the family of Betty Donovan announces her passing on February 1, 2020 at the age of 89.
Betty grew up on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. She spent much of her young life exploring the historical beauty of this narrow island of windswept dunes and dwellings on stilts. She had many fond memories of life on the Island with her two older brothers, Ray and Billy. Including discoveries of Edgar Alan Poe’s tree house, where it is rumored, he wrote the short story, “The Gold-Bug.” Another favorite was playing in Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired outside the Charleston Harbor. At that time, she was small enough to actually climb into the canon barrels to hide when playing hide-n-seek. While in high school, Betty danced competitively with her older brother Ray in large halls that held hundreds of competitors. She was an army brat, with her father, John Thomas, as an official marching band instructor. Betty and her mother lived in Japan while her father John was traveling through Asia marching the band in parades through territories secured by generals. Her mother, Loretta, was a homemaker and would brew the family beer. While overseas, Betty was enrolled in nurse training school, she developed a great appreciation for Japanese culture and her cooking became Asian/southern style. Returning to America with her RN diploma, Betty and her parents settled into a suburb of San Diego called La Mesa. She excelled in the intensive care units (ICU) of many San Diego county hospitals. She always had an interest in the performing arts and had a great ability to draw, illustrate and paint naturally for her personal pleasure. While at a lively naval nightclub, Betty met John Donovan. A year or so later, they were married at the San Diego Mission de Alcala in Mission Valley. They purchased a ranch style home near the edge of Tecolote canyon in Clairemont and raised four children there. At the age of 44, Betty went back to school to SDSU for her BS degree to further her career, not an easy feat while juggling family life. After her husband John passed away in the year 2000, she moved to Rancho Bernardo, California to be closer to her son, Matt, and his family.
Betty is survived by her two daughters; Susan and grandson Frankie Donovan; daughter Maryanne and son-in-law Jefferey Demarco; sons Pat, Matt and daughter-in-law Charla Donovan, grandson Shaun, granddaughter Kara, and grandson-in-law Alex Reynolds; Brother Willy and sister-in-law Dorothy Fetter.
Bettys graveside service will be held at Dearborn Memorial Park in Poway on Friday, February 28th at 11:00am. Shortly thereafter, a wake celebration will be held at the home of Matt and Charla Donovan
Betty knew the Lord and we are comforted to know that she is resting in the arms of our savior, Jesus Christ.
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