Betty Leona Garrett Tilbury

Born on June 5, 1923, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Betty was the second of three children born to Ralph and Angela (Roy) Garrett. She graduated from North Side High School in 1941. Following graduation, she worked at Lincoln National Life Insurance Company before marrying the love of her life, Raymond Tilbury, in April 1942.

The newlyweds began their life together in Tacoma, Washington, where Ray was stationed at Fort Lewis before serving overseas during World War II. During that time, Betty returned to Fort Wayne with her newly born twin daughters. When Ray returned, she helped build Ray Tilbury Construction. Betty played an essential role in the business, managing its operations while raising their four daughters.

Throughout her years in Fort Wayne, Betty devoted countless hours to serving her community. She volunteered with the Red Cross, the Jane Addams Society, where she served as president, St. Jude Catholic Church, the St. Charles Rosary Society, and as both a Brownie and Girl Scout leader. Her faith and commitment to helping others were central to her life.

Betty and Ray built a beloved cottage on Adams Lake, where weekends and summers became treasured family traditions. The lake house welcomed relatives and friends for many years and became the backdrop for countless memories. Betty spent many hours driving the boat while teaching her daughters, their friends, and later her grandchildren to water ski. Her love of lake life remained with her throughout her life.

In 1975, Betty and Ray retired and moved to Marco Island, Florida, where they enjoyed more than two decades of friendship, travel, concerts, beach walks, bowling, and exploring new destinations together. Betty continued her lifelong commitment to service by volunteering with Naples Comprehensive Healthcare, Marco Urgent Care, San Marco Catholic Church, where she helped organize funeral meals, flowers, and parish activities, and through environmental volunteer efforts that reflected her love of nature and her community.

After 52 years of marriage, Ray passed away in 1994. Betty remained on Marco Island until 2001, when she moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, to be closer to two of her daughters. During those years, one of her greatest joys was the annual adventures she shared with all four daughters. Together, the "Tilbury Girls" explored hiking destinations across the country, often choosing locations along the Appalachian Trail with the ambitious goal of hiking as much of the trail as possible. These trips created some of Betty's happiest and most treasured memories. Always eager for a new adventure, Betty also enjoyed snorkeling, participating in America's Cup sailing tours, and white water rafting.

Betty remained remarkably independent, maintaining her own home with her beloved dog, Mandy, until the age of 99 years old, when she moved to Tampa to live with her daughter, Deb. She also spent summers with her daughter Pam at Lake Keowee in South Carolina, where she continued to enjoy the outdoors and the water she had always loved. Even at age 96, she climbed onto a jet ski, and declared, "That was so much fun!"

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Tilbury; her parents, Ralph and Angela Garrett; and her brother, Jack Garrett, who lived until the age of 104. She is survived by her brother, Robert "Bob" Garrett, who will celebrate his 99th birthday in September; her daughters, Janet Green, Judith (Jim) Pirrung, Debra (Paul) Bowdoin, and Pam (Randy) Taylor; her grandchildren, Heather Green Backs, Adam Green, Will Bowdoin, and Rachel Bowdoin Robb; and her great-grandchildren, Vivian, Elliott, and Oliver Backs; Emerson and McKinley Green; and JeanAnn and Anderson Bowdoin.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Florida on Thursday September 17 at 10:30AM. A second Memorial Mass will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dates and times will be announced later for the second mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 1600 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33712.

Betty was laid to rest beside her beloved husband at Naples Memorial Park in Naples, Florida.

Betty was strong, independent, resilient, and deeply devoted to her family. She lived a life defined by faith, service, generosity, and quiet determination. Her legacy lives on in her family and the countless lives she touched over more than a century.