Betty Greer Waldner

Betty Greer Waldner, age 84, passed away peacefully at her home in Newbury Park, California on June 1, 2010. Betty was born in 1926 in Cold Spring, Kentucky. Inspired by a junior high school nutrition teacher, she attended the University of Cincinnati and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food and Nutrition. She continued her education at Cornell University, where she graduated with a Master of Nutrition Science degree. While at Cornell, she met her future husband Michael Waldner who was completing his PhD. Betty and Mike were married in July 1955, and settled in Syracuse, New York where they started a family with son David and daughter Susan born in 1956 and 1957. She and Mike moved to Southern California in 1959 where her son Tom and daughters Nancy and Jennifer were born in 1959, 1964, and 1970. Betty spent her life always putting others first including her husband, children, grandchildren and clients. While raising her five children in the San Fernando Valley, Betty enjoyed volunteering for the American Cancer Society, the local PTA chapter, Saint Mel’s, Saint Julie’s, and taking her children to the beach every summer. A Registered Dietician since 1949 and a certified diabetic counselor, in mid-life she went back to work as a dietician for a nursing home operator and later for the County of Los Angeles for the Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program. In her later years, she continued to work part time as a dietician and consultant until retiring at the age of 83 and traveled the world with her daughters and grandchildren. Betty is survived by her husband Michael; brother Jack (Lila); children David (Claire) Waldner, Susan (Gregor) Magnusson, Thomas (Annika) Waldner, Nancy Shipman (Roger) Gailey, and Jennifer (Nathan) Leland; grandchildren Danielle (Paul) Diniz, Kristin, Brandi, Kyle, Sarah, Devon, Maren, Max, and Stella; and great-grandchild Seth. Betty was preceded in death by son-in-law Michael Shipman and brother-in-law Joseph Waldner.

Arrangements under the direction of Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Mortuary, Westlake Village, CA.