Betty Ruth Schwartz

The daughter of Ivan and Lillie Henthorne, the former Betty Henthorne was born on a farm in Porters Falls, West Virginia, on January 27, 1921, and grew up in the company of two brothers and one sister.

At the age of 15, she contracted pneumonia and suffered from a stroke that paralyzed the right side of her body. Thankfully, she overcame the difficulties brought on by the stroke, learning to write with her non-dominant hand and recovering almost completely.

After high school, she went on to study at West Liberty College and met the love of her life, George Schwartz, who directed the West Liberty orchestra. George was called to duty and served for 4 years in World War II, but while abroad, saved enough money for an engagement ring and asked his parents to propose to Betty by proxy.

Upon his return, the couple married in Cumberland, Maryland, on December 22, 1945, at the church of the bride's brother, Ray. The couple settled in San Antonio when George was recruited by the San Antonio Symphony to be their principal bassoonist. They became parents in 1950 with the birth of their daughter, Jayne, and again in 1953 with the birth of their son, Richard. Betty then embarked on a long and rewarding career as a fourth grade teacher at Ridgeview Elementary, during which time she also attended Trinity University to complete her masters degree in Education. She retired from teaching in the early 1980s.

Mrs. Schwartz loved to read, cook, and attend symphonies to hear her husband perform. She was an avid sports fan, watching sports of all kinds on TV, but she was particularly fond of the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Cowboys. She was active in the North San Antonio Retired Teachers Association and cherished her teacher friends for many years. She also knew the joy of welcoming into her family three granddaughters, Erin, Neala, and Adrienne, whom she doted on with great constancy, providing them with treats, like her famous chicken tetrazzini and homemade chocolate chip cookies.

In 1993, she and her husband moved to Canyon Lake and lived together tranquilly until Mr. Schwartz's passing in 2010, having been married 65 years. She then lived with her daughter in San Antonio until her own passing.

Mrs. Schwartz leaves behind her daughter, Jayne; her granddaughters, Erin, Neala, and Adrienne; and her brother-in-law, Charles.

GRAVESIDE MEMORIAL SERVICE

FRIDAY

MARCH 20, 2015

3:00 P.M.

FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

1520 HARRY WURZBACH

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209