Betty Jane Crenshaw, 94, of Port Lavaca, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 17, 2022, in Sugar Land, Texas. She was born on September 25, 1928, in Canton, Ohio to the late Lillian Mae Crowl. As a young girl growing up in Alliance, Ohio, she helped care for her mom when she came down with typhoid fever which, along with caring for many stray animals, inspired her to become a nurse. While attending nurses training in 1950, she also became a competitive roller-skater winning the 1951 Ohio Senior ladies speed roller skating championship; the 1951 Great Lakes Regional championship, before finally being crowned the 1951 US National Speed Skating Champion. She also finished as the runner up in the 1952 Woman's National Speed Skating Championship. In November of 1952, she gave up her professional skating career to serve her country and accepted a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force serving proudly until the birth of the first of her three children. In 1961 she and her family moved to Port Lavaca where she began her 32-year career as a registered nurse at Champ Traylor Memorial Hospital retiring as O.R. supervisor in 1993. In 1981 she married the great love of her life, Dr. E.S. Crenshaw. The two of them had many happy years together and their love set an example for us all. She loved many things in life, travelling, movies (especially James Bond), and just about all sports (especially NFL football). She and her son were season ticket holders for both the Houston Oilers (Luv Ya Blue!) and the Houston Texans and attended hundreds of games over the years. She also loved to tailgate with her extended family of Houston Texan Tailgaters. The thing she loved the most, however was spending time with the children and grandchildren all of which have wonderful memories of their times staying at Grandma Betty’s house.
Betty is survived by her children Debra Bland (Michael), Kim Smith-Maxwell, and Michael Fitzpatrick (Laurie); step-children Jim Crenshaw (Deb), John Crenshaw (Eva), Katheryn Crenshaw-Leschper (Larry), and Tom Crenshaw (Sandy); fourteen grandchildren, Jenni Ruiz, Cameron Bland, Connor Bland, Nicole Kay, Sean Fitzpatrick, Jamie Afflerbach, Melany Crenshaw, Lauren Zarzour, Kristine Leschper, Brett Crenshaw, Katie Crenshaw-Storrs, Trevor Crenshaw, Tori Kovarek, and Ryan Maxwell; twelve great-grandchildren, Brayden Flores, Sadie Bland, Gavin Chicoski, Greyson Chicoski, Zoey Chicoski, Kimbri Kay, Temperance Afflerbach, Reed Afflerbach, Owen Garcia, Cadence Garcia, Molly Kate Storrs, and Collins Penny Crenshaw. She was preceded in death by her mom and by her husband, Dr. E.S. Crenshaw.
Visitation will be held from 5pm-7pm on Friday, October 21st at Richardson Colonial Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at Richardson Colonial Funeral Home at 10am on Saturday, October 22nd. Pallbearers will be Cameron Bland, Connor Bland, Sean Fitzpatrick, John Crenshaw, Tom Crenshaw, and Brett Crenshaw. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Crenshaw, Trevor Crenshaw, Ryan Maxwell, JD Smith, and Brayden Flores.
We love and miss you immensely, Betty Jane.
Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.richardsoncolonial.com.
