Betty Eunice Faulkner was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on February 28, 1928. Betty lived life fully never resting until something was done right. She was courageous. In ‘51 she boarded a ship full of GI's and traveled to Japan to be secretary to an Air Force General and that is when God surprised her with a gift. She met and fell in love with First Lieutenant Darrell Faulkner on a blind date, and after a storybook romance in Tokyo, (documented in a suitcase full of letters we discovered), they shared the next 67 years together. Traveling the world as a military couple, Betty loved learning and received her Undergraduate Degree at the University of the Philippines and her Masters in Political Science from Nova University. She could be counted on to be ready for any challenge in front of her and was honored with too many awards to list; in fact, one year she was Citizen of the Year for the state of California while she had 2 toddlers. She had a special bond with young people and gave her heart and counsel to Jr. High students for 40 years, many of them at DeLaura Jr High in Satellite Beach, FL and Deer Valley Middle School in Phoenix, AZ where she was voted ‘Most Popular Teacher’ several times by students and recognized by peers as ‘Teacher of the Year’ and ‘Most Outstanding Teacher’ for the Deer Valley School District. She shared her craft even in her 70’s and 80's as a substitute teacher at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, and Satellite and Eau Gallie High Schools. She was patriotic, voted, valued American freedom, and passionately taught youth about our government process. In her 80’s she relentlessly traced her lineage back to the Mayflower and became a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She loved her children, Lisa (Gary Noviello), Darrell Pat (Robin Faulkner) and Jeannie (Steve Thomas), but her grandchildren were the greatest joy of her life. Ginger, Bobby, Eric, Noel, Joel, Ryan, Ethan, and Maximilian were the apples of her eye. She never missed an opportunity to love them. She taught them to swim, plied them with homemade cookies, took them on trips and simply showered them with loving attention. When great-grandchildren Isla, Aura, Lyric, Cordelia, twins Adeline & Lucy and newborn Clementine came into our circle, she was overjoyed. One of the last words she spoke was to tell Clementine she was “Precious”.
Her energy and spark for music, cards, dancing, and simply living life out loud leaves a void that will be remembered fondly and absolutely missed. She gently slipped away into the presence of Jesus – from our arms into Darrell's who was waiting for her. She was surrounded by her family and had the lyrics of “Shine on Harvest Moon” in her heart. We love Betty to the Moon and Back.
A Graveside Service will be held Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 10:00am at Florida Memorial Gardens, 5950 South US highway 1, Rockledge, FL .
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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