AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT
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Direct descendant is highlighted in red
Elizabeth (Betty) Louise Zimmerly see FAMILY TREE
| Born: 17 Apr 1905 Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN Married: 28 Jun 1931 Indianapolis, Marion Co. IN Died: 23 Apr 1980 Rancho Bernardo, CA Buried: El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, CA FATHER Jefferson Earl Zimmerly MOTHER Ethel Blanche Spillman HUSBAND CHILDREN
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Elizabeth Louise Zimmerly by Susan Brooke Sep 2023 Betty was born in Indianapolis 17 Apr 1905, the oldest of 4 children.(1) She was very bright and curious and managed to get in trouble with her mother daily. One story she told was at the age of 4 when her sister Mary was being born, she had been told to go out and play, because the doctor was bringing her a new baby sister or brother. When the doctor arrived Betty peaked in his satchel and found no baby and quizzed her mother why. Betty was then tied to a tree outside to keep her from continually coming inside and asking any more nosy questions. Then while playing happily she heard the horse drawn tea and coffee wagon coming. She waited until the driver was near and let out a wail knowing her mother would get in trouble for tying her to a tree. Betty learned to read and write early and skipped grades 1 and 5 making her quite young for her class. At the age of 14 she became ill with rheumatic fever and was confined to bed for a year. When she started back to school, she could attend only part time and take courses only on the first floor. She was a senior in high school but due to the lingering effect of the illness, it took her three years to complete her senior year. Her family kept moving during those years so she attended 3 different schools and took different first floor courses. At 17 she graduated and applied for college scholarships. Her father was still recovering from the business failure and did not have any funds for her college education. It was also understood that any money becoming available should go toward the education of the only son. Betty received a partial scholarship from the University of Chicago to study medicine, her first choice, but since it was only a partial scholarship her father said no. She therefore went to John Herron Art School on a full scholarship and took extension courses from Indiana University. Even so she had to take a year off between her sophomore and junior years to work to give money to her father. While at school she drew ads for shoes, etc, to help support herself. She had only two dresses, the one on her body and the one in the laundry. She graduated in 1928 and eventually became the high school art teacher in Anderson where she met Joe White, the young horn engineer. They were married on 28 Jun 1931, the anniversary of her parent's wedding. (2) It was 104 degrees on their wedding day and Betty had specifically asked Joe not to play golf beforehand. But he with his and her brother took off to play just 9 holes in Anderson anyway. On the 6th hole (195yds) Joe got a hole in one and in order to have it officially recorded on the clubhouse plaque they had to finish all 18 holes. So, in the intense heat, they finished the round, hurried back to Indianapolis, arriving late to a very nervous, worried, and then angry bride. With no time for showers they were dripping perspiration and the sweat from Joe's nose dripped down his tie during the ceremony and stained the white shirt underneath. Afterwards everyone present congratulated the groom on his hole in one. It even made the newspapers when The Associated Press picked up the story. Joe and Betty lived in Anderson, Indiana where Betty was active in the PTA and other organizations and Joe worked at Delco-Remy. Then in 1955 the family moved to Santa Monica, California where Joe worked in the defense industry with Douglas Aircraft. They eventually retired to Rancho Bernardo, California where Betty died 23 Apr 1980. (3) At the age of fourteen she had been told she would have a short life, but she lived to the age of seventy-five. As she often said, she "enjoyed" poor health all her life. Betty loved to tell a good story and laugh. |
Sources
(1)
Social Security Death Index
(2) Marriage Certificate
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 28 Jun 1931 Indianapolis, Marion, IN Betty, Joe White, Mary Zimmerly and Max White |
(3)
 Richard and Elizabeth, 1910 |
 Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine, 1913 |
 Richard, Elizabeth, Mary and Catherine, 1913 |
 1929 |
 "Betty" White 1937 |
 1939 at Mary's wedding |
 Susan and Betty White, 1944 in Dana |
 1946 on vacation in California |
 Betty White, 1955 Anderson, IN |
 1957 with sister Mary |
 1962 |
 1966 Turkey Run State Park |
 1969 with grandson |
 1970 with grandsons |
| Photos with her children |
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