Betty Joanne Hampton

Betty Joanne Tanner Hampton, born October 9, 1932, passed away on Monday, April 1, 2019. Alzheimer’s took her body but never took her spirit. Betty was a beautiful, spunky, smart, brave, artistic, fun-loving, animal-loving free spirit who lived life on her own terms. Betty loved her family and her pets above all else. The world was a better place when Betty was in it. Betty brightened the world with her sense of humor.

Betty lived in New York City, Las Vegas, and Miami but returned to Dayton to raise her daughters. When Betty was in Las Vegas when she was eighteen, she was in a casino and people started crowding around her, taking pictures and wanting her autograph. It turns out that Elizabeth Taylor was staying at the same hotel and Betty was being mistaken for Ms. Taylor! To say she was beautiful is an understatement!

Betty was well read, politically active, and an advocate for the underserved. She did not tolerate inequality or injustice in social policy or issues. She confronted situations that displayed ignorance or lack of fairness and made her opinion known. Her ability to stand up for what is right was displayed throughout her life.

Betty loved to exercise and work out at the gym, which has become a family tradition. Cooking for her family was a favorite activity. She loved music and dancing – she was the life of the party!

Betty is survived by her two daughters, Laura (Mike) Magner and Elizabeth Siegel Chapman and her seven loving grandchildren and one great grandson: Lindsay, Ryan, Alexa, Joseph, Michael, Jacqueline, Isaac and Gannon. Betty is also survived by her loving sister, Ann Callahan, who resides in Aiken, South Carolina. Each one of Betty’s grandchildren adore her. They all have wonderful stories to tell and amazing memories of their grandma to cherish. Betty loved animals and was the mom to four dogs and four cats. Betty graduated from Roosevelt High School and from Sinclair College of Nursing. Betty worked at GM and Chrysler for many years before she decided to become a nurse. Betty went to college at the age of forty and completely changed careers, which was such an incredibly brave thing to do. After she earned her R.N., Betty worked at Good Samaritan, Grandview, and Dayton Mental Health Hospitals. She was a wonderful and dedicated nurse and treated all of her patients with respect.

Over the last fourteen years, Betty had wonderful caregivers who enriched her life. Sue, Amy, Charlotte, and Kandy – we love you and thank you! A special thanks to Hospice of Dayton for their caring for Betty in her final days.

There will be a visitation for Betty from 3:00-5:00 on Tuesday, April 9, at Tobias Funeral Home, 5471 Far Hills Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45429. Memorial service and reception immediately following at the same location. Betty loved animals, so please in lieu of flowers, make a donation to the Dayton Humane Society or the animal rescue of your choice in her name.

Each one of our hearts is broken to not have our sweet, darling mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister, and friend with us here on this earth. Each of us can quote what Betty wrote to her beloved grandmother on Mother’s Day many years ago:

“I know you are with God and I hope to join you in God’s presence when I leave this world.”

We love you, our darling angel, and you will always be with us.