Pauline Elizabeth Trant

Betty was predeceased by her parents, Bessie and Algie Benbow, her brother, Dr. Bob Benbow, and her sister-in-law Marion Benbow. She was predeceased by her first husband, Luther J. Westbrook and her sister-in-law Margaret Westbrook Smith, brother-in-law Connie Smith, her brother-in-law Jack Westbrook, and her second husband Emmett Trant. She was survived by her daughter, Polly Westbrook Olson and her son-in-law, Carl R. Olson, Sr., her grandchildren, Carl R. Olson, Jr., and his wife, Melissa, Luther Westbrook Olson (Luke) and his wife Kate, and her great grandchildren, Rachel, Lucas, and Rush Olson.

Betty was born on September 5, 1925, in Bryan, Texas in St. Joseph’s Hospital. She attended Stephen F. Austin High School in Bryan and The University of Texas in Austin. She married Army Air Corp Major Luther Westbrook in 1945. She spent many years as an Air Force wife living in Nagoya and Tokyo, Japan, Columbus, Ohio, and Fallschurch, Virginia where then Colonel Westbrook worked at the Pentagon and later at Andrews AFB, Maryland. Luther and Betty were then transferred to Hickam AFB, Hawaii. During the Vietnam War when Luther was assigned one year of duty at TanSonNhut AFB, Saigon, Betty returned home to Bryan to await his return.

When Luther retired from the service, he and Betty moved back to Bryan. She became very active in the Bryan community. She belonged to the Bryan Woman’s Club and served one year as President. She was a founder of the Bryan Jr. League and served as its President. In addition, she was also a founder of the Texas Eta Chapter of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority at Texas A&M University. She enjoyed meetings as a member of the Robert Henry chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also enjoyed attending Circle meetings at the First Presbyterian Church in Bryan.

In her seventies, Betty returned to the University of Texas in Austin to complete her BA degree in History, an accomplishment of which she was particularly proud. Betty spent much of her time looking after the care of her mother, Bessie Seale Benbow, who lived to be over one hundred years old. She was fond of her many relatives and cherished her friendships over the years.

Many thanks to her caregivers, Josie Hernandez, Esmeralda Molina, Sharron McPhail, Faye Chopko, and Fabiola Cruz.

A private family service will take place at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.