Elizabeth M. Overton

Obituary for Elizabeth Merring Overton – 97 years young

Elizabeth (Betty) Merring Overton passed on to her eternal life on Memorial Day, a significant date for a Naval WWII veteran and an active member of the dwindling number of America's greatest generation. Born in Elmira, New York, to Rev. Edwin Ernest Merring and Helen Esther Phelps, Betty graduated in Music Education from Syracuse University and taught public school music for a year before joining the Navy. As a member of the WAVES, the first women to serve in the U.S. Navy, she was assigned as the Chaplain's Assistant at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. While stationed there, she met E.C. Overton, a hotshot Navy fighter pilot – also a composer in need of a pianist to audition and direct the chorus for their new musical "USS Petticoat." This musical was performed by an all-female cast to three standing-room only packed houses, followed by a command performance to the city of Corpus Christi. The experience set the stage for a lifelong shared commitment to music.

Following the war, they lived in Chicago, where E.C. earned his Optometry degree, then moved to Birmingham to set up his private practice. Betty (church pianist and organist) and E.C. “Doc” Overton (Director for the Birmingham Baptist Men's Chorus, Birmingham City Councilman, founder of UAB Optometry School) were an inseparable part of the music ministry at Central Park Baptist Church – raising six exceedingly talented and remarkably strong-willed children in this healthy social environment. Somehow, Betty convinced each of her children that they were her favorite child (it's a gift). She expanded her boundless love to include hosting five foreign exchange students, directing Central Park’s Woman's Missionary Union, and leading children's choirs for 56 years.

Betty Overton is survived by four of her 6 children, 11 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren – each one taking the love she so fully shared with them into the world.

Arrangements under the direction of Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel, Birmingham, AL.