Betty Adele Bodenheim's Obituary
Betty was born July 11, 1921 to William and Mary Adele Mitchell in Houston, Texas and died February 22, 2016 in Longview, Texas. She graduated from Wichita Falls High School in 1939. She attended Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. During World War II she met Edwin Hobby Bodenheim of Longview, Texas at Shepherd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls. They married in April 1943 and moved back to Longview after the war in 1945.
Betty was affectionately known by family and friends as “Mimi”. She loved the arts, the outdoors and traveling. She traveled the world with her children and grandchildren and attempted to introduce them to all things cultural. Betty helped organize the Civic Music Association of Longview after World War II. She also helped organize the Friends of the Library, Nicholson Memorial Library now the City of Longview Public Library. She was a past President of the Longview Charity League, now the Junior League of Longview. She helped organize the Women’s Auxiliary of Gregg Memorial Hospital, now Good Shepherd Medical Center. She was a charter member of House and Garden Club and a charter member of Gregg County Historical Museum. She was a lifelong member of Pinecrest Country Club and a member of Longfellow’s. She was a director of the Greenwood Cemetery Association and helped organize and was the first director and board member and Director Emeritus of the Longview Museum of Fine Arts. Mimi was a “Doer” who truly loved helping others, her community, and her church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, William and Adele Mitchell, her husband, Edwin Hobby Bodenheim, and her youngest son, Edwin Hobby Bodenheim, II.
She is survived by her son, Roland and his wife, Martha Bodenheim of Garden Ridge, TX; and her daughter, Betty and husband, Mike Clowers of Longview. Sisters, Patty Caudill of Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Marcia Hegland and husband, Mike of Lakeville, Minnesota and a number of nieces and nephews.
Grandchildren, Cindy Clowers Schell and husband, Trent of Plano, Texas; Christy Clowers Flanagan and husband, Bill of Loveland Ohio; Major Edwin Bodenheim and wife, Vivian of Fairbanks, Alaska; Major Chris Bodenheim and wife, Bethany of Stafford, Virginia; and Laura Bodenheim Boston and husband, Jeff of Ft. Worth, Texas.
Great Grandchildren, Liam Flanagan, Erin Flanagan, Victoria Schell, Alexa Schell, Emory Bodenheim, Roland Bodenheim, Quinn Bodenheim, Merrick Bodenheim and Sloane Bodenheim;
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Thursday, February 25, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Rev. Mark Kusmirek officiating. Rosary will be recited at 5:30 pm Wednesday, February 24th at the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Jack Post, Mike Pemberton, Bill Bankston, Ruben Martin, Bill Stoudt, Harold Cox, Larry Knutson and Jimmy Calk.
For those who desire memorial contributions may be made to the Longview Museum of Fine Arts, St. Mary’s Catholic Church or to a charity of your choice.
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