Betty Jean Cameron, born December 18, 1925, in Oil City, PA, was called home to be with our Lord on September 21, 2013, at the age of 87. Funeral services will be held graveside at Sunset Memorial Park, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio, TX 78218, (210)828-2811.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth and Merle Kimes; her siblings, Wayne Kimes and Lois Kriger; and her husband, Ralph Cameron.
She was loved and will be dearly missed by her children, Cheryl Altwein, Cathy Cooley, Cyndie Bowman and Carol Garcia; sons-in-law, Delbert Altwein, Jerry Cooley, Ted Tadlock and Steve Garcia; four grandchildren, Dustin Altwein, Lori Altwein-Sinon, Roy Sauer and Zachary Bowman; grandson-in-law, Michael Sinon; granddaughters-in-law, Alexandra Altwein, Allison Karst and Haley Justice; 6 great grandchildren, Ava Altwein, Cameron, Hailey and Lily Sauer, and Zoey and Kylee Bowman; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Family would like to say a special "Thank you" to the Staff at Care Choice Nursing Facility. She was a resident there for over 6 years. We never had a bad incident and they treated her with lots of love and kindness, no matter what her mood was at any time. Also a special recognition to the Hospice workers from Hart to Hart. They helped us through her final hours. We were happy she received such loving and tender care in her final days and also for months prior to her death.
Our Mom was a very private person. She was born and raised in Oil City, Pa. She worked in a TNT plant during WWII. She said they bussed the workers 30 minutes outside the city, just in case there was an explosion! She actually liked working there. She was only 17 years old at that time. At the age of 20, she moved to San Antonio, Texas, on April 6th, 1946, to be with her Mother and Sister. Later her brother, Wayne, and his wife, Buelah, moved to San Antonio also.
While working as a waitress at the Night Hawk Steakhouse, she met and fell in love with our Dad. When he asked her to marry him, she said "YES, but I have to go back to Pennsylvania and break off my engagement with a man named Paul first!" She went by train back to Pennsylvania, NOT air conditioned she noted, in order to do that. She said it was only right to tell him in person and return his ring. She stayed a short while with relatives. While there, she sent and received many, many letters to and from my Dad. She kept those letters all these years.
Much later in her life, she went back to work selling World Book Encyclopedias and after that didn't work out; she went to work as a manager for a uniform company. She was very proud of the work she did there until she retired.
Saying goodbye to the people we love is very difficult, but now we can be happy that she is with all the people she loved in life that went before her.
Larry Andrews is officiating our Mom's funeral service. He is the Pastor at Community Bible Church Bulverde, where Carol attends services. We really appreciate him for helping us through this difficult time and praying with us for Mom and all the family.
Cheryl, Cathy, Cyndie and Carol would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts, prayers, and flowers. It always feels good to have so many close friends and relatives at your side when you need them.