Flora Wunneburger

Betty was born in Teague, TX on November 9, 1923 to Lucien Winfield Manahan and Flora Opal Martha Pearl Hardin Manahan. She graduated in 1941 from Pine Tree High School in Longview, TX.

Needing a watch to begin Nurse's School, Betty worked as a maid at Markham-McRee Memorial Hospital in Longview to earn the money to buy one and subsequently entered the 1942 class at Highland Sanitarium in Shreveport, LA. She completed her training as a Registered Nurse in 1944 at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and entered the U.S. Army Air Force in 1945. In 1961, she was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and in 1972 completed Masters Degrees in Education and Nursing, both from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX.

Betty served our country first as a U. S. Army Air Force Registered Nurse during the ending and aftermath of World War II, next as a flight nurse during the Korean War, and ultimately as the Chief Nurse at Bergstrom AFB hospital. Reaching the rank of Captain, she resigned her officer's commission in 1955 as was the current armed forces requirement for women with children. After earning a teaching certification in Special Education, she served as the Special Education Director for Del Valle ISD and as the Special Education Coordinator for Austin ISD. Subsequently, she served as Director of Nurses at Brackenridge School of Nursing, Director of Nursing Services at St. David's Hospital and finally as the Chief Administrator of the Crestview Children's Home.

While serving at Bergstrom AFB Hospital, Betty met and married her husband, Arnold in 1955, remaining married until his death in 1975. They raised four sons, Richard (from Arnold's previous marriage), Douglas, Eric and Gregg.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. Arnold L. Wunneburger (USAF ret.) and two sisters, Charlene Adkisson and Maxine Mason.

She is survived by her four sons, Richard Lee Wunneburger of Westcliff, CO married to Shirley Lynn Sciba Wunneburger, Douglas Frank Wunneburger of Bryan, TX married to Patricia Anne Maines Wunneburger, Eric Arnold Wunneburger of Austin, TX and Gregg Wayne Wunneburger of Garland, TX married to Judy Dian Sommer; by nine grandchildren, Jason Louis Wunneburger of Pueblo, CO married to Jamie Werth Wunneburger, Carin Elaine Wunneburger of Stephenville, TX, Anne Marie Wunneburger, Abigail Leigh Wunneburger, and Aaron Douglas Wunneburger of Bryan, Chelsea Elizabeth Wunneburger, Courtlyn Susanne Wunneburger, and Eric Arnold Wunneburger II of Austin, and Jarod Lee Wunneburger of New York City; and by two great grandchildren, James Parker Wunneburger and Amelia Grace Wunneburger of Pueblo.

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be left in Betty's online guestbook at www.wcfish.com.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the Stonebridge Health Senior Care Center and to Odyssey Hospice Care for their support in her final days.

Graveside Service will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, April 29, 2013 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas.