Betty Jane Howard

Betty Jane Howard was born on January 1, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan. She was an only child. At 4 years old, Betty’s mother passed away and she went to live with her grandmother in Georgia. When she was around age 7, she moved to Los Angeles, California, with her mother’s cousin, Beatrice Lucas, and Beatrice and her husband Rupert Lucas adopted her.

While attending UCLA and studying physical education in the late 1940’s, she met Charles Jones. They married and had two daughters, Dorrena and Annena. Following Betty’s divorce from Charles, she met Nathan Howard and the two were married at their home in 1959. Nathan and Betty welcomed a daughter, Felicia, in 1960.

Betty worked at the Los Angeles County USC Medical Center for 30 years. She started out making baby formula in the nursery before working her way up to Unit Coordinator, where she was responsible for supervising staff and ordering all of the supplies needed for the Neonatal Intensive Care unit at the hospital.

By the 1980’s, Betty and Nathan became members of the 21st Century Travel Club and traveled to many destinations, including the Caribbean Islands, Panama Canal, and Hawaii.

While living in Los Angeles, Betty attended St. Paul Baptist Church and Grace United Methodist Church. After moving to Lake Elsinore, California, in 1984, she began worship at the Independent Church of Lake Elsinore, where her parents were members prior to their passing. There, she served as an Usher, Deaconess, and the Church Treasurer.

Betty was a devoted host and entertainer, who always opened her home to her family and friends. She loved dogs and enjoyed horseback riding, sewing, and knitting. She was also an excellent swimmer and taught many of her grandkids how to swim.

She is survived by her three daughters and sons-in-law, Dorrena and Curtis Hobbs, Annena Herndon and Jesse Stasher, Felicia and Thomas Flournoy, her twelve grandchildren, Neysha Laskey, Nichelle Hobbs, Curtis Hobbs III, Jessica Herndon, Darain Stasher, Savannah Stasher, Danyelle Mitchell, Damon Flournoy, Jason Flournoy, Thomas Flournoy, Jr., Toni Trower and Travon Flournoy; 35 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren.

Betty touched so many people with her warmth and was Mom and Grand-mommy to so many more than just those in her immediate family.

There will be a visitation on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 from 4-8pm at Miller-Jones Mortuary 26770 Murrieta Rd., Sun City, Ca 92586. A Funeral service will be on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 3:30pm at Miller-Jones Mortuary Sun City. She will be laid to rest privately at Riverside National Cemetery.