Betty Sue Oliver

Betty Sue Oliver, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, friend and devout Christian died on May 9, 2024 at home with hospice care in Tustin, California. She was 90 years old. Born to Russell William Ewick and Mecie Bell Smith in Shelbyville, Indiana on August 27, 1933, her biggest joy in life was being a mother to her four children. She showered them with love and devotion.

Some of her fondest childhood memories center around summers at Aunt Mae and Uncle Dan’s old farmhouse in Manila, Indiana. A cherished possession being a framed photograph of this old house, enabled Betty to recall being so loved and happily milking cows, a horse named Babe, and collecting eggs, with family time together singing around a Victrola, enjoying homemade ice cream and playing games mostly outdoors in nearby cornfields and streams.

Betty loved to tell stories about her adventurous young life, moving to Miami from Indiana for the summer in 1947, where there was “white sand and palm trees right on the beach”. Soon thereafter, she was promised “movie stars” and all a young teenager could imagine and was convinced to leave her Indiana home and friends for Long Beach, California with her stepdad, Walter Hanna and mother in 1948. Soon after, she joined the volleyball team, took sewing and cooking classes at junior high school. She loved dancing the jitterbug, knew all the songs on the “Hit Parade” and loved to pose for pictures with her sister, Lois. In those days the inseparable two sisters were nicknamed “Stop and Go”. Lois had beautiful red hair. Betty loved movies, movie star magazines, and her “Truth Book”, popular at the time. She traveled from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles for work at Woolworths by Red Car, being very responsible and independent.

Betty attended Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles, California until 1949 and received GED from San Gabriel High School in 1964. Later, she earned a Legal Secretary Certificate at Santa Ana College. She was employed at South Coast Community Church as well as Newport Beach attorneys Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

In February 1951, Betty met the love of her life, Don Oliver at Greenleaf Avenue Baptist Church, where she joined a traveling Christian drama group, taught Sunday School and lead a youth group called “Singspiration”. After Betty and Don’s first kiss, March 1951, Don proposed on May 31, 1951 during a day that included a drive to 29 Palms. They were married at Greenleaf Avenue Baptist Church on August 23,1951, celebrating their honeymoon in Santa Monica and Cambria Pines Lodge. Her brother’s car, a Lincoln, was loaned to them for the occasion, and the couple subsequently received a speeding ticket. Betty learned to drive Don’s 1941 Studebaker, complete with rumble seat. Touring California with Don was both exciting and educational.

Her favorite meal was a chocolate malt, hamburger and french fries at In and Out Burgers or Ruby’s on the Pier. But not to forget her all time favorite was Olvera Street taquitos. She also enjoyed Sees candy, hot fudge sundaes and cherry cokes. Halloween and Christmas were her favorite holidays. She loved filling Easter baskets each year to surprise her children. Betty’s favorite pastimes include studying her family genealogy, geocaching, Facebook friends and family, quilting, travel, family gatherings, neighborhood friends and dogs, Red Hat/Magnolias, her beloved poodle Holly, backyard squirrels and hummingbirds, her roses and walking on the beach. Betty enjoyed traveling to England, Scotland, Canada, Mexico as well as Cape Cod, Boston, NYC, Washington DC, upstate NY, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, Hawaii and all the places in between. But there was “no place like home”.

She loved her french poodle, Holly. In Betty’s younger days, she was a skilled and awesome poodle groomer. Her sister in law, Lee Browne, was instrumental in this incredible activity. Betty was a sewer and quilter, a member of the Flying Geese Quilters Guild for many years. She volunteered at Hoag Hospital,Newport Beach, assisting new moms and newborns. She played Bingo at the Tustin Senior Center.

Christmas lights and the 4th of July fireworks were always anticipated and enjoyed, but her love for God and her church and living a life that reflected these values was foundation to her 90 years on Earth. Every morning began with a devotion and prayer which set the intention of her day. She was comforted by her prayers and belief in God and looked forward to being in heaven with all those that went ahead of her. Betty enjoyed being a member of Saddleback Community Church and part of a Small Group Bible Study which for years met regularly in her home. She professed to reading the whole Bible multiple times. She loved to study God’s words and shared her love for Jesus continuously.

Recognitions were many, including “Queen For A Day”, a popular TV show, in spring 1952. Don introduced Betty to tent camping and later RVing. Some of her favorite camp spots include many State Beach Parks, Big Bear Lake, Big Sur, redwoods in Northern California. Don bought a movie camera in 1953, documenting many family adventures. She enjoyed writing Christmas newsletters and later was Editor in Chief and publisher of the fabulous “nEwsWICK”, a collection of articles and other pleasantry contributed by family, intended to unite distant family.

Named “Honey” by her many grandchildren and great-grand children, Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm became her favorite places to share with them. She loved the “E-ticket” rides. She also enjoyed the world famous Cyclone Racer (1930), in Long Beach. She was also nicknamed “lead-foot Betty”, she owned a red Camaro for a short time in 1969.

In the early sixties, Betty played a major role during the establishment of a private Christian high school, Maranatha, now located in Pasadena, California. She and Don later received recognition for this and Betty created “Rice Donald Oliver Founders Scholarship” for a deserving student. Today, there is a designated “Oliver Honors Institute” at Maranatha.

In 1979, California Weekly Explorer was born. After Don’s unexpected death on July 4, 2002, Betty was able to continue this successful business as owner and administrator until just recently with the assistance of her son-in-law and confidant, Barry Hovis, a remarkable accomplishment for the young girl from Indiana! Her CWE family always being very special, she took pride in monthly meetings and presentations.

Halloween 1995, marked the Oliver’s move to 2711 Lathrop Ct, Betty’s cherished home for nearly 30 years. There she established many enduring, treasured friendships for which she was very grateful. Betty was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 51 years, Rice Donald Oliver, sister Lois Arlene Lowenstein, brother Raymond Eugene Ewick, nephew Jim Francesconi, niece Leslie Ewick Davis, and grand-nephew Eric Josserand. She is survived by sons Steven Mark Oliver, Dana Matthew Oliver (Debbie), daughters Susan Dawn Oliver (Van), Heather Erin Oliver Hovis (Barry), seven grandchildren, Jacob Oliver, Christa Oliver, Bonnie MacIntyre Skinner, Olena Oliver, Jordan Hovis, Olivia Hovis, and Devin Hovis, five great-grandchildren, Harper, Ethan, Seth, Ellie and Belle, and numerous beloved nephews and nieces and many many friends.

Betty was in awe of nature, the ocean, flowers, the moon and starry nights and everything beautiful on this planet Earth. As you observe your own surroundings, think of Betty and the joy she shared with all of you, take a walk on your favorite beach, gaze out at the ocean or mountains or share a special story about “your” Betty and remember her always…she treasured each of you.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Betty’s name to your favorite charity or hospice. Thank you for celebrating 90 years of a life well-lived alongside all of us.