Betty Vivian Myers Raba

Betty Vivian Myers Raba, beloved sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, was born September 22, 1924 in Elgin, Illinois, and went home to her Lord on October 15, 2003 at the age of 79.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Ernest A. Raba; sons, Dr. Ernest Raba, Jr. and wife, Lynette, of Durham, NC, Paul Raba, John Raba and wife, Angela; daughter, Cynthia Malone and husband, Kenneth, all of San Antonio; grandchildren, Damien Raba of Greensboro, NC, Nina Segars and husband, Tom of Raleigh, NC, Kristina Stallworth and husband, Jack, of Lakenheath AFB, UK, Kate O'Brien and husband, Will, of Ellsworth AFB, SD, Seth, Zachary and Michael Malone and Lindsey Raba of San Antonio; great grandchildren, Eleanor Stallworth and William O'Brien; sisters, Laurea Cunningham, Patricia Smith, Barbara Rhoades, Clarece Hill and Carolyn Shaw, numerous nieces and nephews.

Her parents, Clarence and Wilma Myers, sister, Minta Sheeley; and infant son, Paul Michael, preceded her in death.

Betty was raised on a farm in the heart of the Arkansas Ozarks during the Great Depression where the family lived a difficult life of hard work, with little time for play, but experienced the beauty and wonder of God's simple gifts. After graduating second in her high school class, and leaving the farm, she attended business college on a scholarship.

In early 1943, she passed a test to be a secretary and court reporter in the Office of the Judge Advocate, Camp Polk, Louisiana. There she met her future husband and she and Ernest were married on March 10, 1945, in the post chapel.

After the war, the newlyweds returned to Ernest's home in San Antonio, where they raised their family and worked hand-in-hand in building St. Mary's Law School, during Ernest's 32-year tenure as Dean.

In keeping with her upbringing, for many years Betty additionally was employed in several executive secretary positions.

Through it all, her proudest and most precious blessings were her family and her many dear and wonderful friends. She served those near to her throughout her life both directly and through her active participation in many professional and service organizations and her avocations and special interests such as designing, building and decorating her homes, needlework, genealogy and "financial pursuits" _ stock market dabbling, and black jack, bridge, and other card games.

She was a published poet and a member of the National Society of Arts and Letters.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Battered Women's Shelter of Bexar County, Attn: Mercy, 7911 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209, or a charity of choice.