Elizabeth Caldwell Parish

Elizabeth (Betty) Caldwell Parish, age 85, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 24th, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on July 17th, 1938, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Elizabeth Boyd and Jesse Lynwood Caldwell. She grew up in Nashville and graduated from Harpeth Hall School. She graduated from Duke University in 1960 with a major in French. She fell in love with Charles W. Parish, Jr. (Texan) while attending Duke and they married and moved to San Antonio after a few short residences in Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Metz, France; and Fort Rucker, AL, while Charles completed his military service.

Betty was an active member of The Junior League of San Antonio, The Battle of Flowers Association, Timely Topics, and Christ Episcopal Church. Over the course of her life, she spent many happy years giving tours of San Antonio with Local Arrangements, Inc., and then established Wedding Planners, Inc., with several of her close friends: Sidney Wilkins, Chica Younger, Betty Cauthorn, and Raye Foster. She developed quite a fan base of young newlyweds who greatly appreciated her calm demeanor and kindness during their wedding planning days. Towards the end of her career, Robin Waters joined Betty atWedding Planners, Inc., and became a dear friend and trusted business partner.

Betty loved reading books, sneaking off to the movies on Sundays with her friend, Page Webb, and traveling to Cuernavaca with Chica Younger. She took up cycling in order to accompany Charles to Europe for six consecutive summers (Germany, France, and Italy). She loved her “Me-Mommy” days with her grandchildren, Charlie and Annabelle.

Betty made social interaction look effortless and she always focused on the positive. Betty was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, and business partner.

Betty was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Charles W. Parish, Jr. She is survived by her two daughters, Lisa Parish Thaddeus (Tom) and Kate Parish Lanfear (Dan). She has five grandchildren: Charlie Thaddeus (Hannah), Annabelle Thaddeus, Nicole Lanfear (Andrew), Allison Lanfear, and Walter Lanfear. She has one great grandchild, Georgia Thaddeus, and a second great granddaughter on the way. She is also survived by her sister, Lucy Caldwell Painter (Ken).

The family would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank Bianca and Beny Bodea at Oak Mist Assisted Living Home and their staff; Beverly at Trinity Hospice; and Dr. Michael Lichtenstein for his amazing medical care over many decades.

Betty’s memorial service will be Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., Christ Episcopal Church, 510 Belknap Place San Antonio, Texas 78212.