Betty Steele Williams

Betty was born in Philadelphia, PA on April 25, 1926 to Emma Rickner Steele and Brady G. Steele, Sr. She had an older brother, Brady G. Steele, Jr. The family moved to Dobson, North Carolina where Betty grew up and graduated from high school. She and her mother moved to San Francisco in 1943 and she began working for the Pacific Telephone Company as a typist and retired 38 years later as an HR Benefits Supervisor. She was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

Betty joined the Van-Sac singles group at the church she attended in San Francisco and made many life-time friends. It was at that group that she met Lowell R. Williams, who she married in 1957. They moved to Sacramento, CA in 1962, designed and built their own home and started a family by adopting their daughter and son, Cynthia J. Williams and David S. Williams. Betty and Lowell divorced in 1972 and Betty never remarried.

She was an industrious, active woman and continued to hold other jobs after her retirement from Pac Bell, including the City of Sacramento, The Tuesday Club of Sacramento and even See’s Candy.

After her final retirement, she began researching her genealogy. She spent hundreds of hours and traveled extensively to learn about her ancestry. Her efforts uncovered that she was eligible for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Because she believed in community service and was very organized and dependable, she not only joined the organization but held offices for a number of years.

Betty had an inquisitive mind, loved learning and had a wide range of interests. She and her mother joined The Tuesday Club of Sacramento and enjoyed the monthly luncheons and guest lecturers along with the friends she met. Until the last few years, she was active in many groups: Sacramento Chrysanthemum Society, Carmichael Geranium Society, General John A. Sutter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames, Sacramento Genealogical Society, Sacramento German Genealogy Society, and Tuesday Club of Sacramento. She also volunteered at Casa de los Ninos.

She loved to travel, garden, play cards and spend time with her family, friends and her dogs.

She is survived by her daughter Cindy Williams, her son David Williams and her grandchildren Christopher Williams and Carole Walston. A private graveside service was held Feb 28 at 9 a.m. at Mt. Vernon Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sacramento SPCA.

Arrangements under the direction of Reichert's Funeral & Cremation Services, Citrus Heights, CA.