Elizabeth "Betsy" McCall Richardson

Betty, as she was known in her youth (and still by childhood friends and relatives) was born on September 21st, 1925 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

At age 10, she moved with her family to California settling in Glendale where Betty graduated from Hoover High School in 1943. Later that year she began her studies at UCLA and, with many of her Glendale friends, joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. In 1947, Betty became the first member of her family to graduate from college earning a degree in English and a teaching credential. She taught 5th grade in East Los Angeles for three years before marrying Robert (Rich) Richardson, a graduate of USC, after managing to overcome a deep-rooted prejudice against the cross-town rival school. Rich called her Betsy, and Betsy she was to friends thereafter. Their first child, Susan, was born in 1951.

1953 found them crossing the equator to brave the sharks and seemingly incessant sandstorms of the small coastal oil town of Negritos, Peru. But, it wasn’t all bad as their proximity to such wonders as Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca inspired what became a life-long passion for travel – eventually they would visit 49 countries. The camaraderie of the international community fostered special interests in dancing, bridge, pisco sours, and... shopping!

Coming home to the United States in 1956, they bought a new car in New York and drove cross-country to Ventura where they would live for the next half-century. They eagerly joined Ventura’s burgeoning oil and ranching community consisting, at that time, of just 14,000 people and with the birth of their son, Steve, their family was complete.

Over the years, substitute teaching, Panhellenic, El Cien Dance Club, CMH Women’s Auxiliary, knitting, needlepoint, Assistance League activities, charities and book clubs kept Betsy’s life busy and helped to create many friendships lasting over 50 years. Honing her duplicate bridge skills kept her mind sharp, competitive juices flowing, and sometimes tried those 50 year friendships!

She was predeceased by Robert, her husband of 56 years.

Betsy was very proud of her family, as we were of her, and never missed a chance to introduce us to her new friends later in life. She is survived (and will be missed) by her daughter, Susan Putman (husband Brian) of Novato, California; son, Steve (wife Galina) of Ventura; four grandchildren, Cory Oakes (husband Mark), Neil Putman, Susha and Nattie Richardson; and two great-grandchildren, Sophia Elizabeth Oakes and Alexander Robert Oakes.

A memorial celebration of her life is pending. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Assistance League School c/o Assistance League Ventura County, Assistance League Program, 913 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura, CA 93001.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home and Crematory, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.