Betty Waldron Axelberg

Betty Waldron Axelberg, a native of Atlanta, made her gracious passage home on the morning of May 30, and many souls, both two-legged and four-legged, are welcoming her with joy. Betty was born in 1920 to John and Bertha Sicius Waldron. She graduated from North Avenue Presbyterian School and attended Oglethorpe University, where she met her future husband, Howard Axelberg, a Wisconsin native who was a guard on the Oglethorpe football team. One spring afternoon in 1939, their fancy turned to the trolley: They hopped it to Buckhead, where they were married by a justice of the peace. The parental chagrin on both sides was considerable, but 66 years of marriage would prove the doubters wrong. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Howard enlisted in the Navy and Betty joined the American Women’s Voluntary Services, the start of a lifelong commitment to volunteer work. Betty also worked as a secretary at the naval yard in Portsmouth, VA, while Howard was stationed there, biking to her late shift with a carrot peeler at the ready to fend off any miscreants. After the war, the couple settled happily back to life in Atlanta. Betty continued her volunteer work – Emory and Grady hospitals; the old Veterans Hospital on Peachtree Road; the Red Cross; Literacy Action; the High Museum; the American Cancer Society. Later in life she became a certified brailler with the Atlanta Braille Volunteers; Betty was an avid reader who wanted the joy of books to be available to everyone. She was an elegant and gently eccentric spirit who found tremendous delight in even the smallest everyday things that many people overlook. She loved animals and adopted many over the years. Betty was predeceased by Howard in 2004; they are survived by three children, Jon Axelberg (wife Maila) of Woodstock; Steve Axelberg of Roswell; and Elizabeth Axelberg (partner Tina McElderry), of Decatur. Graveside services will be Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 11 o’clock, at Arlington Memorial Park with a reception to follow at H.M. Patterson and Son, Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd, NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends (aarfatlanta.org) or Alley Cat Allies (alleycat.org).