In Memory of
Donald Ray Betterton
Donald Ray Betterton, P.E., 79, of Kerrville, Texas was called to his heavenly home on January 28, 2017. Don was a native Houstonian, born September 8, 1937, to Irene Elizabeth and Leslie Betterton graduated from Jeff Davis High School in 1955, He immediately entered the U.S. Navy, Seabees, in 1955, at 17, after being turned down for flight school because he was “too tall”. He became a crew chief on a survey crew and saw a bit of the world, from Cuba to Turkey and points in between.
Upon discharge in 1958, he renewed his acquaintance with Sara Faye Blankenship, and enrolled in The University of Houston, as a night student in Civil Engineering. He worked full -time, attended night classes for 12 years before receiving his diploma. He also walked into the downtown offices of Houston Lighting and Power in 1958 and started work almost immediately as a stake driver on a survey crew...”It’s where we start surveyors”....In the next 37 years he worked in Engineering through design, and construction, managed a new department, Environmental Protection, successfully took on the licensing for two nuclear plants. In 1980 he took over the management of the Power Plant engineering and construction departments. He loved most every minute of those working days.
Don and Sara married February 21, 1958, the loves of each others lives. They would have celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary next month. They enjoyed their work and volunteer duties in addition to raising their two children. He pursued a lifelong passion for golf, tennis, motorcycles of various types, and got his “ticket” to fly in the 1970’s, working his way up from a private pilot, to commercial and multi-engine instrument ratings. Enjoying his planes for fun, trips and taking guests to see the sights from Friendswood to Florida and points in between....... Doing Coast Guard duty out of Ellington Field in South Houston, pleased him. He won many awards with the Coast Guard, flying weekends in his favorite “play plane”, a colorful Citabria in red, white and blue which he helped restore. His newest hobby of 20 years took him all over Texas and the south with his friends, shooting competition sporting clay and pistol matches.
He was a 30 plus year member of the Houston Engineering and Scientific Society, and served several years as a Board member and Officer. With his secretaries’ help, they successfully launched the Three Wishes program which provided Christmas gifts for needy children and its success spread throughout a good part of the company’s employees in the 80’s.
He was thankful to have received a kidney transplant in 1996 and it lasted well; still going strong at his death. After moving to Kerrville he was a CASA volunteer, serving as a mentor to and legal court representative for all ages of youth, and more recently joined his wife as a Christian Assistance Ministry volunteer as his health failed.
In addition to his wife, Don is survived by their two children, Jeanna Betterton Sparks and husband Cecil of Houston, and son Don Jr, widely known as “Son”, and wife Tiffany, Allen, TX; his brother Arthur Gene Betterton, and wife Melinda, Kerrville; two grandchildren, Adam Daniel Macey and wife Sophie, Houston, and Sara Elizabeth Truhitte and husband Daniel, Anna, TX; step-grandchildren, Jeff & wife Tristen, Jacob, and Julia; six great-grandchildren, three boys, Ezra, Levi and Asher Macey, and three girls, Eden Macey, and Sophia and Anastasia Truhitte; his sister-in-law, Betty Jean and husband Stephen M. Dodge, Austin; niece Shannon Polce, and husband David, Kerrville; and two nephews, Ray Perry III,. and John Stuart Jones, both of whom live in the Pacific northwest.
He loved the Lord Jesus Christ and looked forward to “going home.” A gift he appreciated and gave thanks to God for each day.
A celebration of his life was held February 2nd at First United Methodist Church Kerrville, and a graveside funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 7th at 1:00pm at the Forest Park - Lawndale Cemetery, Houston, led by The Rev. Don Meador.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to CASA - Kerrville, or Christian Assistance Ministries, Kerrville, and will be welcomed. Or perhaps the Wounded Warriors Project or Homes for our Troops programs he highly supported as well.
Upon discharge in 1958, he renewed his acquaintance with Sara Faye Blankenship, and enrolled in The University of Houston, as a night student in Civil Engineering. He worked full -time, attended night classes for 12 years before receiving his diploma. He also walked into the downtown offices of Houston Lighting and Power in 1958 and started work almost immediately as a stake driver on a survey crew...”It’s where we start surveyors”....In the next 37 years he worked in Engineering through design, and construction, managed a new department, Environmental Protection, successfully took on the licensing for two nuclear plants. In 1980 he took over the management of the Power Plant engineering and construction departments. He loved most every minute of those working days.
Don and Sara married February 21, 1958, the loves of each others lives. They would have celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary next month. They enjoyed their work and volunteer duties in addition to raising their two children. He pursued a lifelong passion for golf, tennis, motorcycles of various types, and got his “ticket” to fly in the 1970’s, working his way up from a private pilot, to commercial and multi-engine instrument ratings. Enjoying his planes for fun, trips and taking guests to see the sights from Friendswood to Florida and points in between....... Doing Coast Guard duty out of Ellington Field in South Houston, pleased him. He won many awards with the Coast Guard, flying weekends in his favorite “play plane”, a colorful Citabria in red, white and blue which he helped restore. His newest hobby of 20 years took him all over Texas and the south with his friends, shooting competition sporting clay and pistol matches.
He was a 30 plus year member of the Houston Engineering and Scientific Society, and served several years as a Board member and Officer. With his secretaries’ help, they successfully launched the Three Wishes program which provided Christmas gifts for needy children and its success spread throughout a good part of the company’s employees in the 80’s.
He was thankful to have received a kidney transplant in 1996 and it lasted well; still going strong at his death. After moving to Kerrville he was a CASA volunteer, serving as a mentor to and legal court representative for all ages of youth, and more recently joined his wife as a Christian Assistance Ministry volunteer as his health failed.
In addition to his wife, Don is survived by their two children, Jeanna Betterton Sparks and husband Cecil of Houston, and son Don Jr, widely known as “Son”, and wife Tiffany, Allen, TX; his brother Arthur Gene Betterton, and wife Melinda, Kerrville; two grandchildren, Adam Daniel Macey and wife Sophie, Houston, and Sara Elizabeth Truhitte and husband Daniel, Anna, TX; step-grandchildren, Jeff & wife Tristen, Jacob, and Julia; six great-grandchildren, three boys, Ezra, Levi and Asher Macey, and three girls, Eden Macey, and Sophia and Anastasia Truhitte; his sister-in-law, Betty Jean and husband Stephen M. Dodge, Austin; niece Shannon Polce, and husband David, Kerrville; and two nephews, Ray Perry III,. and John Stuart Jones, both of whom live in the Pacific northwest.
He loved the Lord Jesus Christ and looked forward to “going home.” A gift he appreciated and gave thanks to God for each day.
A celebration of his life was held February 2nd at First United Methodist Church Kerrville, and a graveside funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 7th at 1:00pm at the Forest Park - Lawndale Cemetery, Houston, led by The Rev. Don Meador.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to CASA - Kerrville, or Christian Assistance Ministries, Kerrville, and will be welcomed. Or perhaps the Wounded Warriors Project or Homes for our Troops programs he highly supported as well.
Services
Memorial Service
Thu. Feb. 2, 2017
2:00 pm
First United Methodist Church - Kerrville
321 Thompson Dr
Kerrville , TX 78028.
Graveside Service
Tue. Feb. 7, 2017
1:00 pm
Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery
6900 Lawndale Avenue
Houston , TX 77023.
2:00 pm
First United Methodist Church - Kerrville
Kerrville , TX 78028.
Tue. Feb. 7, 2017
1:00 pm
Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery
6900 Lawndale Avenue
Houston , TX 77023.
Houston , TX 77023.
Thu. Feb. 2, 2017
2:00 pm
First United Methodist Church - Kerrville
321 Thompson Dr
Kerrville , TX 78028.
Kerrville , TX 78028.
Tue. Feb. 7, 2017
1:00 pm
In Memory of
Donald Ray Betterton
Donald Ray Betterton, P.E., 79, of Kerrville, Texas was called to his heavenly home on January 28, 2017. Don was a native Houstonian, born September 8, 1937, to Irene Elizabeth and Leslie Betterton graduated from Jeff Davis High School in 1955, He immediately entered the U.S. Navy, Seabees, in 1955, at 17, after being turned down for flight school because he was “too tall”. He became a crew chief on a survey crew and saw a bit of the world, from Cuba to Turkey and points in between.
Upon discharge in 1958, he renewed his acquaintance with Sara Faye Blankenship, and enrolled in The University of Houston, as a night student in Civil Engineering. He worked full -time, attended night classes for 12 years before receiving his diploma. He also walked into the downtown offices of Houston Lighting and Power in 1958 and started work almost immediately as a stake driver on a survey crew...”It’s where we start surveyors”....In the next 37 years he worked in Engineering through design, and construction, managed a new department, Environmental Protection, successfully took on the licensing for two nuclear plants. In 1980 he took over the management of the Power Plant engineering and construction departments. He loved most every minute of those working days.
Don and Sara married February 21, 1958, the loves of each others lives. They would have celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary next month. They enjoyed their work and volunteer duties in addition to raising their two children. He pursued a lifelong passion for golf, tennis, motorcycles of various types, and got his “ticket” to fly in the 1970’s, working his way up from a private pilot, to commercial and multi-engine instrument ratings. Enjoying his planes for fun, trips and taking guests to see the sights from Friendswood to Florida and points in between....... Doing Coast Guard duty out of Ellington Field in South Houston, pleased him. He won many awards with the Coast Guard, flying weekends in his favorite “play plane”, a colorful Citabria in red, white and blue which he helped restore. His newest hobby of 20 years took him all over Texas and the south with his friends, shooting competition sporting clay and pistol matches.
He was a 30 plus year member of the Houston Engineering and Scientific Society, and served several years as a Board member and Officer. With his secretaries’ help, they successfully launched the Three Wishes program which provided Christmas gifts for needy children and its success spread throughout a good part of the company’s employees in the 80’s.
He was thankful to have received a kidney transplant in 1996 and it lasted well; still going strong at his death. After moving to Kerrville he was a CASA volunteer, serving as a mentor to and legal court representative for all ages of youth, and more recently joined his wife as a Christian Assistance Ministry volunteer as his health failed.
In addition to his wife, Don is survived by their two children, Jeanna Betterton Sparks and husband Cecil of Houston, and son Don Jr, widely known as “Son”, and wife Tiffany, Allen, TX; his brother Arthur Gene Betterton, and wife Melinda, Kerrville; two grandchildren, Adam Daniel Macey and wife Sophie, Houston, and Sara Elizabeth Truhitte and husband Daniel, Anna, TX; step-grandchildren, Jeff & wife Tristen, Jacob, and Julia; six great-grandchildren, three boys, Ezra, Levi and Asher Macey, and three girls, Eden Macey, and Sophia and Anastasia Truhitte; his sister-in-law, Betty Jean and husband Stephen M. Dodge, Austin; niece Shannon Polce, and husband David, Kerrville; and two nephews, Ray Perry III,. and John Stuart Jones, both of whom live in the Pacific northwest.
He loved the Lord Jesus Christ and looked forward to “going home.” A gift he appreciated and gave thanks to God for each day.
A celebration of his life was held February 2nd at First United Methodist Church Kerrville, and a graveside funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 7th at 1:00pm at the Forest Park - Lawndale Cemetery, Houston, led by The Rev. Don Meador.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to CASA - Kerrville, or Christian Assistance Ministries, Kerrville, and will be welcomed. Or perhaps the Wounded Warriors Project or Homes for our Troops programs he highly supported as well.
Upon discharge in 1958, he renewed his acquaintance with Sara Faye Blankenship, and enrolled in The University of Houston, as a night student in Civil Engineering. He worked full -time, attended night classes for 12 years before receiving his diploma. He also walked into the downtown offices of Houston Lighting and Power in 1958 and started work almost immediately as a stake driver on a survey crew...”It’s where we start surveyors”....In the next 37 years he worked in Engineering through design, and construction, managed a new department, Environmental Protection, successfully took on the licensing for two nuclear plants. In 1980 he took over the management of the Power Plant engineering and construction departments. He loved most every minute of those working days.
Don and Sara married February 21, 1958, the loves of each others lives. They would have celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary next month. They enjoyed their work and volunteer duties in addition to raising their two children. He pursued a lifelong passion for golf, tennis, motorcycles of various types, and got his “ticket” to fly in the 1970’s, working his way up from a private pilot, to commercial and multi-engine instrument ratings. Enjoying his planes for fun, trips and taking guests to see the sights from Friendswood to Florida and points in between....... Doing Coast Guard duty out of Ellington Field in South Houston, pleased him. He won many awards with the Coast Guard, flying weekends in his favorite “play plane”, a colorful Citabria in red, white and blue which he helped restore. His newest hobby of 20 years took him all over Texas and the south with his friends, shooting competition sporting clay and pistol matches.
He was a 30 plus year member of the Houston Engineering and Scientific Society, and served several years as a Board member and Officer. With his secretaries’ help, they successfully launched the Three Wishes program which provided Christmas gifts for needy children and its success spread throughout a good part of the company’s employees in the 80’s.
He was thankful to have received a kidney transplant in 1996 and it lasted well; still going strong at his death. After moving to Kerrville he was a CASA volunteer, serving as a mentor to and legal court representative for all ages of youth, and more recently joined his wife as a Christian Assistance Ministry volunteer as his health failed.
In addition to his wife, Don is survived by their two children, Jeanna Betterton Sparks and husband Cecil of Houston, and son Don Jr, widely known as “Son”, and wife Tiffany, Allen, TX; his brother Arthur Gene Betterton, and wife Melinda, Kerrville; two grandchildren, Adam Daniel Macey and wife Sophie, Houston, and Sara Elizabeth Truhitte and husband Daniel, Anna, TX; step-grandchildren, Jeff & wife Tristen, Jacob, and Julia; six great-grandchildren, three boys, Ezra, Levi and Asher Macey, and three girls, Eden Macey, and Sophia and Anastasia Truhitte; his sister-in-law, Betty Jean and husband Stephen M. Dodge, Austin; niece Shannon Polce, and husband David, Kerrville; and two nephews, Ray Perry III,. and John Stuart Jones, both of whom live in the Pacific northwest.
He loved the Lord Jesus Christ and looked forward to “going home.” A gift he appreciated and gave thanks to God for each day.
A celebration of his life was held February 2nd at First United Methodist Church Kerrville, and a graveside funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 7th at 1:00pm at the Forest Park - Lawndale Cemetery, Houston, led by The Rev. Don Meador.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to CASA - Kerrville, or Christian Assistance Ministries, Kerrville, and will be welcomed. Or perhaps the Wounded Warriors Project or Homes for our Troops programs he highly supported as well.
Charitable Donations may be made to:
Hill Country CASA
305 Earl Garrett
Kerrville, Texas 78028, Kerrville, 78028.
Website Link
Christian Assistance Ministries - CAM
521 Barnett St
Kerrville, TX - 78028, Kerrville, 78028.
Website Link
Homes for Our Troops
Homes for Our Troops
6 Main St.
Taunton, MA 02780, Taunton, MA 02780.
Website Link
Wounded Warriors
4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Website Link
Guest Book
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