Betty was born in Culmerville, PA, on July 13, 1930, the youngest child of C. Clark and Emma (Rittmann) Porter. Hers was a large and loving family of six children and she was always quick to share stories of her childhood. She grew up and went through elementary, middle, and high school with Eugene (Gene) Calvin Buttyan, and it was he whom she chose to marry on March 23, 1954. The dashing Air Force pilot took her on adventures around the world, including a tour of duty in Japan with their children. Betty and Gene had three children, daughter Shannon and sons Calvin and Scott.
Betty was a graduate of West Deer High School and went on to earn a nursing degree from Allegheny Valley Hospital School of Nursing where she was senior class president. At the time of her marriage, she was a nurse at Georgetown University Hospital , Washington, D.C. Betty continued to practice as an orthopedic nurse and balanced that with motherhood until her retirement.
Betty was a passionate letter writer and devoted pen pal to many family members and friends. She always wrote by hand, in a neat cursive that chewed up front, back, and all corners of a note card. After retirement from nursing, Betty developed a passion for quilting, and enjoyed her weekly quilting class for as long as she was physically able.
Betty was a nurse by profession but cared for people way beyond her calling. She took in teenage friends of her children, offering a surrogate home and mother bear protection because it was the right thing to do. She had just the right touch for a grandson’s ear ache, a friend’s illness, an extended family member’s loss. She loved (and spoiled) every family dog.
Betty is survived by her husband, Lt. Col. (Ret) Eugene Calvin Buttyan Sr. of El Paso; children Shannon Buttyan of El Paso and B. Scott (Nancy) Buttyan of Carrollton, TX; grandson Adam Buttyan of Boston, MA; brother Dwight Buttyan of PA; brothers-in-law Don (Betsy) Buttyan of Show Low, AZ, and Tom (Mary Ann) Buttyan of Dover, FL; sister-in-law Mrs. Fred (Carol) Horner of Karns City, PA, and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Betty is preceded in death by son Eugene Calvin Buttyan, Jr., parents C. Clark and Emma (Rittman) Porter, siblings Mrs. Charles (Lucille) Cooper, Mrs. Henry (Elinor) Beecken, Floyd Porter, and Mrs. Melvin (Marvel) Norris.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 22,2018 at 9:30 a.m., at Martin Funeral Home East, 1460 George Dieter Drive, El Paso, TX 79936. An interment service is immediately following at 11:00 a.m., at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Avenue, El Paso, TX 79906.
Special appreciation goes out to Christina Hernandez, MD; the staff at Regent Skilled Nursing Home, and Hospice El Paso.
In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to donate to the American Cancer Society so that others, just like Betty, can be survivors of this disease.
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