Betty J Desmond

Betty was born October 5, 1921 in Peoria to Orie and Maude (Zettle) Dunbar. She married Louis E. Desmond on June 7, 1942 in Peoria. He preceded her in death on December 5, 2011.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; one son, Michael James; and one grandson, Jeffery Allen.

She is survived by her sons, Louis W. (Sheila) Desmond, of Morris, IL, William W. (Janice) Desmond of Dunlap, IL and Delmar L. (Judy Stephenson) Desmond of Gaithersburg, MD; 9 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and her beloved brother Walter (Norma) Dunbar.

Betty was a devoted mother and homemaker for her family. She was very involved in her boy’s activities and served as room mother at numerous times, several PTAs in Peoria Heights and as a Cub Scout Den Mother for many years. She welcomed her grandchildren to visit often and they all speak fondly of their stays at her home. She moved and lived in Bethesda, MD for 13 years while her husband managed the Caterpillar Defense Products office in Washington, D.C., returning to Peoria in 1979.

She was a member of Arrowhead Country Club for over 30 years and was a WGA member, a member of the Arrowhead Traveler’s league and wintered for over 25 years in Myrtle Beach with her husband and many members of the club. She was a very productive photographer from her youth and later concentrated on her family and pictures of clouds. Betty was an avid reader from her childhood on and greatly enjoyed solving crossword puzzles.

Funeral Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria. Rev. Al Dunbar will officiate. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, prior to services at the chapel. Burial will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Lutheran Hillside Village.

Online tributes and condolences may be made at www.davison-fulton.com.