Betty Wyche Rader's Obituary
Betty Wyche Rader, 86, of Longview, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 8, 2018.
She was born March 27, 1932 in Kilgore, Texas, the daughter of Clinton Preston and Mary Lois Harrell Wyche. She grew up in Kilgore and attended Kilgore Public Schools. Betty received her associate’s degree from Kilgore College where she was a member of the Rangerettes and then graduated from the University of North Texas with a major in Business Administration.
She married her high school sweetheart, Charley Rader on December 27, 1952.
In 1953, Charley and his father, LeRoy, purchased the Rains and Talley Funeral Home in Longview. After Charley’s graduation for mortuary school in 1954, they moved to Longview, where they made many wonderful, lifelong friends.
Betty was raised Presbyterian and one of the first things they did was join the First Presbyterian Church in Longview, where she enjoyed being a longtime member of the choir. She later became a charter member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Longview.
She was active at the funeral home acting as bookkeeper and secretary in the early years and later working the register at funerals. She truly enjoyed her time as a member and past President of the Junior Service League, now the Junior League of Longview. Betty loved working at the Bargain Box and serving on almost all the different committees through the years. She was active in her church and numerous organizations in Longview including, The Shakespeare Club, Friday Bridge Club, Junior Literary Club, and the Green Thumb Garden Club.
Betty was a loving and devoted mother, wife, grandmother “Grandmommy” and was truly joyful about becoming a great grandmother. She always commented on how truly blessed she was to have had her children close by and by the many wonderful friends she made during her life.
Her faith in Christ helped sustain her during these last few years of her life as her health declined. She really missed the freedom of being able to drive so she could go visit friends, shop and enjoy doing things with her friends and family.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Charley in 2007; her parents, and her sister, Alice Lon Bowling.
Survivors include her daughter, Lynn Martin and her husband, Jerry of Longview and their children, Emily Vandenberg and husband, Jay of Houston and Laura Caple and husband, Jimmy of Dallas; her son, Charles Rader and his wife, Lacy of Longview and their children, Preston Rader and his wife, Erika of Longview and Sarah Rader of Longview. She was blessed with 6 great grandchildren, Charley and Lainey Vandenberg, Carson and Will Caple, and Benjamin and Abigail Rader. Also surviving are her nephews, Bob Bowling and wife, Cathy, Clint Bowling and wife, Nancy, and Larry Bowling, along with other extended family.
Following a private family graveside, a memorial service will be 2:30 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Doug Ashley officiating under the direction of Rader Funeral Home. Her pallbearers will be the funeral directors and staff of Rader Funeral Home.
Special thanks and love to her caregiver, housekeeper and dear friend, Lou Scott for the wonderful, loving care she gave our mother for so many years. We also want to thank the staff of Heartsway Hospice for their compassionate care and to her wonderful caregivers who enriched her life, became part of our family and cared for her these last few years, Pam Watson, Carla Jones and Jennifer Leuschner.
Memorials may be made to the Longview Evangelical Presbyterian Church or to a charity of your choice.
A memorial guestbook may be signed at www.raderfh.com
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