ATHERTON, Betty Lou Gibson Age 88 of Fairborn, passed away Thursday August 13, 2009. She was born October 5, 1920 in Wellston, Ohio, the daughter of the late Harold and Daisy (Patton) Gibson. Her early years were spent in the New Carlisle - Bethel Community. She was a graduate of Olive Branch (Tecumseh) High School in 1938 where she was active and participated in all sports, especially the girls basketball team that held the county championship for many years. She then continued her interest in sports by playing for the Crowell / Collier Publishing Co. Team while attending Business College in Springfield. She started her career at Wright- Patterson AFB in 1941 as an accountant and held many supervisory positions, including Chief of the Cost Accounting Dept. for 15 years, retiring in 1965 as a Management Specialist. Following retirement, she continued to remain actively involved in many activities in the Fairborn area where she and her husband were residents for over 50 years. She was noted for her many charitable contributions, the most recent being the sponsor for the new Community Park Atherton Amphitheater and the Atherton Endowment Fund. She was a 50 year member of the Aero Chapter No. 536 Order of the Eastern Star. Other memberships include the WPAFB Quarter Century Club, Fairborn Senior Center, an Honorary Member of National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) and (AARP) as well as many other civic organizations to whom she was a faithful anonymous donor. She was also known as a special caregiver to family and friends. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, James Lee Atherton; two sisters, Dorothy Ann Heyer of Fairborn, Maudeen M. Black of New Carlisle; and a nephew, Jerry Ronald Owens of Fairborn. Survivors include a niece, Barbara Louise (Griest) Salyers and husband Howard of Springfield; a nephew, James Donald Owens and wife Diana of Fairborn; as well as numerous great nieces, nephews, and many friends. She will be fondly missed as a loving, giving, and caring Aunt and friend. A funeral service will be held on Saturday August 15, 2009 at 12:00 Noon in the Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, 422 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., Fairborn, Rev. Joseph Sharp officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 A.M. until the time of Eastern Star services at 11:45 A.M. Entombment will follow in the Dayton Memorial Park, Abby Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Betty Lou Atherton Amphitheater Endowment Fund, c/o Greene County Community Foundation, 25 Greene St., Xenia, OH 45385 -or- the James Lee Atherton Parkinson's Disease Memorial Fund, c/o Greene Memorial Hospital, 1141 N. Monroe Dr., Xenia, OH 45385.

Springfield News-Sun
13 August 2009 (Thursday)

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