Elizabeth “Betty” Burnham died peacefully in the early evening of February 13, 2018, surrounded by family and friends, at the too early age of 63.
Betty was born in Jennings, Louisiana, the daughter of Elizabeth (Howard) and John Burnham, on August 2, 1954. The family moved to Bloomington, Indiana, when Betty was 6, where she continued her education and the making of life-long friends.
Betty’s education began at the old University School in Bloomington, studying the normal subjects, and then continued at home where every sibling had to learn to play three instruments. Then after a certain age, they were allowed to specialize, playing one instrument. Betty chose the harp, an instrument bigger than she was, and a beast to lug around to gigs, but she loved it.
Betty breezed through U School with the help of some very intelligent genes she inherited from her mother and father. For example, Betty’s mother, Elizabeth, graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 1935, and Betty’s grandmother, Kathleen Laws Corley, graduated from the same University of Texas in Austin in 1911 as Phi Beta Kappa. We should all be so lucky!
Betty’s journey through U School was so, hmmm, precocious, that she didn’t bother with graduating high school, and just jumped right into college. Betty graduated with honors, with a BSN in Nursing, but still had to get her GED due to state law requiring a high school diploma to be a nurse.
While getting her education at IU, she found the time to become one of the founding members of the Indiana University Women’s Soccer team. Some quotes from her former teammates, “Betty, I don’t know if you will remember your old goalkeeper friend, but I certainly remember you, the very little Energizer Bunny with an amazing leg who was as tough as nails!”; also, “Betty is not a big person, but her kick was monumental. She’s the kind of person who has defined “I’ve got your back” on and off the field.”; and finally, “Betty and her perfect ‘I Mean Business’ braids and headband. You never wanted to make a mistake in the back to disappoint Betty, but you always knew Betty was there if you did. And off the field she was a softie.”
Betty had a long successful career at Bloomington Hospital, where she began as a pediatric nurse and ended working there as the Manager of Infection Control and Employee Health. Anyone remember Betty Bugs?
Before leaving Bloomington, Betty received her MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and then left for Arizona with her husband, Michael, where she continued to work in Infection Control and Employee Health.
While living in Arizona, Betty and her husband kept busy outside of work by playing in the City of Scottsdale Volleyball League. Her first year she played on the same team as her husband and placed second in the league. The next year she was recruited away from her husband’s team and they took first place. They gave her the trophy, and her husband never heard the end of that story!
Betty loved to travel and to explore other cultures. Her soccer playing took her to England, Scotland, and Iceland, and then she was able to spend a year in Italy studying Italian and Music at the Conservatory in Bologna.
Betty’s pets, Watson the Wonder Dog and Pumpkin the Cat, had a special place in her heart, as did other “critters” that crossed her path. Watson the Wonder Dog especially enjoyed watching the soccer games Betty played with the IU Women’s Soccer team, providing the half time entertainment for the fans by chest-trapping the ball and scoring goals. I think there was a little pork in Watson, he was such a ham!
Betty had the energy of a hundred people wrapped up in her little body. She did more in her short years on earth than most of us will ever accomplish in several lifetimes. She was a gifted musician, honors graduate, multi-talented athlete (did I mention she even won medals in slalom skiing?) and was the most loving, caring, kindest person I have ever known.
Betty is survived by her husband, Michael Hostetler; brother, Thomas of Bloomington, IN; brother, James (Gay Marie) of Oak Ridge, TN; brother, Edward (Ananda) of Villa Park, Ill; brother, William (Marcia) of Ann Arbor, MI; and sister Helen (George) of Kings Mountain, NC. Her parents, John A. Burnham and Elizabeth (Howard) Burnham, predeceased her.
Bloomington (IN) Herald-Times, February 16, 2018
Betty was born in Jennings, Louisiana, the daughter of Elizabeth (Howard) and John Burnham, on August 2, 1954. The family moved to Bloomington, Indiana, when Betty was 6, where she continued her education and the making of life-long friends.
Betty’s education began at the old University School in Bloomington, studying the normal subjects, and then continued at home where every sibling had to learn to play three instruments. Then after a certain age, they were allowed to specialize, playing one instrument. Betty chose the harp, an instrument bigger than she was, and a beast to lug around to gigs, but she loved it.
Betty breezed through U School with the help of some very intelligent genes she inherited from her mother and father. For example, Betty’s mother, Elizabeth, graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 1935, and Betty’s grandmother, Kathleen Laws Corley, graduated from the same University of Texas in Austin in 1911 as Phi Beta Kappa. We should all be so lucky!
Betty’s journey through U School was so, hmmm, precocious, that she didn’t bother with graduating high school, and just jumped right into college. Betty graduated with honors, with a BSN in Nursing, but still had to get her GED due to state law requiring a high school diploma to be a nurse.
While getting her education at IU, she found the time to become one of the founding members of the Indiana University Women’s Soccer team. Some quotes from her former teammates, “Betty, I don’t know if you will remember your old goalkeeper friend, but I certainly remember you, the very little Energizer Bunny with an amazing leg who was as tough as nails!”; also, “Betty is not a big person, but her kick was monumental. She’s the kind of person who has defined “I’ve got your back” on and off the field.”; and finally, “Betty and her perfect ‘I Mean Business’ braids and headband. You never wanted to make a mistake in the back to disappoint Betty, but you always knew Betty was there if you did. And off the field she was a softie.”
Betty had a long successful career at Bloomington Hospital, where she began as a pediatric nurse and ended working there as the Manager of Infection Control and Employee Health. Anyone remember Betty Bugs?
Before leaving Bloomington, Betty received her MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and then left for Arizona with her husband, Michael, where she continued to work in Infection Control and Employee Health.
While living in Arizona, Betty and her husband kept busy outside of work by playing in the City of Scottsdale Volleyball League. Her first year she played on the same team as her husband and placed second in the league. The next year she was recruited away from her husband’s team and they took first place. They gave her the trophy, and her husband never heard the end of that story!
Betty loved to travel and to explore other cultures. Her soccer playing took her to England, Scotland, and Iceland, and then she was able to spend a year in Italy studying Italian and Music at the Conservatory in Bologna.
Betty’s pets, Watson the Wonder Dog and Pumpkin the Cat, had a special place in her heart, as did other “critters” that crossed her path. Watson the Wonder Dog especially enjoyed watching the soccer games Betty played with the IU Women’s Soccer team, providing the half time entertainment for the fans by chest-trapping the ball and scoring goals. I think there was a little pork in Watson, he was such a ham!
Betty had the energy of a hundred people wrapped up in her little body. She did more in her short years on earth than most of us will ever accomplish in several lifetimes. She was a gifted musician, honors graduate, multi-talented athlete (did I mention she even won medals in slalom skiing?) and was the most loving, caring, kindest person I have ever known.
Betty is survived by her husband, Michael Hostetler; brother, Thomas of Bloomington, IN; brother, James (Gay Marie) of Oak Ridge, TN; brother, Edward (Ananda) of Villa Park, Ill; brother, William (Marcia) of Ann Arbor, MI; and sister Helen (George) of Kings Mountain, NC. Her parents, John A. Burnham and Elizabeth (Howard) Burnham, predeceased her.
Bloomington (IN) Herald-Times, February 16, 2018
Elizabeth “Betty” Burnham died peacefully in the early evening of February 13, 2018, surrounded by family and friends, at the too early age of 63.
Betty was born in Jennings, Louisiana, the daughter of Elizabeth (Howard) and John Burnham, on August 2, 1954. The family moved to Bloomington, Indiana, when Betty was 6, where she continued her education and the making of life-long friends.
Betty’s education began at the old University School in Bloomington, studying the normal subjects, and then continued at home where every sibling had to learn to play three instruments. Then after a certain age, they were allowed to specialize, playing one instrument. Betty chose the harp, an instrument bigger than she was, and a beast to lug around to gigs, but she loved it.
Betty breezed through U School with the help of some very intelligent genes she inherited from her mother and father. For example, Betty’s mother, Elizabeth, graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 1935, and Betty’s grandmother, Kathleen Laws Corley, graduated from the same University of Texas in Austin in 1911 as Phi Beta Kappa. We should all be so lucky!
Betty’s journey through U School was so, hmmm, precocious, that she didn’t bother with graduating high school, and just jumped right into college. Betty graduated with honors, with a BSN in Nursing, but still had to get her GED due to state law requiring a high school diploma to be a nurse.
While getting her education at IU, she found the time to become one of the founding members of the Indiana University Women’s Soccer team. Some quotes from her former teammates, “Betty, I don’t know if you will remember your old goalkeeper friend, but I certainly remember you, the very little Energizer Bunny with an amazing leg who was as tough as nails!”; also, “Betty is not a big person, but her kick was monumental. She’s the kind of person who has defined “I’ve got your back” on and off the field.”; and finally, “Betty and her perfect ‘I Mean Business’ braids and headband. You never wanted to make a mistake in the back to disappoint Betty, but you always knew Betty was there if you did. And off the field she was a softie.”
Betty had a long successful career at Bloomington Hospital, where she began as a pediatric nurse and ended working there as the Manager of Infection Control and Employee Health. Anyone remember Betty Bugs?
Before leaving Bloomington, Betty received her MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and then left for Arizona with her husband, Michael, where she continued to work in Infection Control and Employee Health.
While living in Arizona, Betty and her husband kept busy outside of work by playing in the City of Scottsdale Volleyball League. Her first year she played on the same team as her husband and placed second in the league. The next year she was recruited away from her husband’s team and they took first place. They gave her the trophy, and her husband never heard the end of that story!
Betty loved to travel and to explore other cultures. Her soccer playing took her to England, Scotland, and Iceland, and then she was able to spend a year in Italy studying Italian and Music at the Conservatory in Bologna.
Betty’s pets, Watson the Wonder Dog and Pumpkin the Cat, had a special place in her heart, as did other “critters” that crossed her path. Watson the Wonder Dog especially enjoyed watching the soccer games Betty played with the IU Women’s Soccer team, providing the half time entertainment for the fans by chest-trapping the ball and scoring goals. I think there was a little pork in Watson, he was such a ham!
Betty had the energy of a hundred people wrapped up in her little body. She did more in her short years on earth than most of us will ever accomplish in several lifetimes. She was a gifted musician, honors graduate, multi-talented athlete (did I mention she even won medals in slalom skiing?) and was the most loving, caring, kindest person I have ever known.
Betty is survived by her husband, Michael Hostetler; brother, Thomas of Bloomington, IN; brother, James (Gay Marie) of Oak Ridge, TN; brother, Edward (Ananda) of Villa Park, Ill; brother, William (Marcia) of Ann Arbor, MI; and sister Helen (George) of Kings Mountain, NC. Her parents, John A. Burnham and Elizabeth (Howard) Burnham, predeceased her.
Bloomington (IN) Herald-Times, February 16, 2018
Betty was born in Jennings, Louisiana, the daughter of Elizabeth (Howard) and John Burnham, on August 2, 1954. The family moved to Bloomington, Indiana, when Betty was 6, where she continued her education and the making of life-long friends.
Betty’s education began at the old University School in Bloomington, studying the normal subjects, and then continued at home where every sibling had to learn to play three instruments. Then after a certain age, they were allowed to specialize, playing one instrument. Betty chose the harp, an instrument bigger than she was, and a beast to lug around to gigs, but she loved it.
Betty breezed through U School with the help of some very intelligent genes she inherited from her mother and father. For example, Betty’s mother, Elizabeth, graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 1935, and Betty’s grandmother, Kathleen Laws Corley, graduated from the same University of Texas in Austin in 1911 as Phi Beta Kappa. We should all be so lucky!
Betty’s journey through U School was so, hmmm, precocious, that she didn’t bother with graduating high school, and just jumped right into college. Betty graduated with honors, with a BSN in Nursing, but still had to get her GED due to state law requiring a high school diploma to be a nurse.
While getting her education at IU, she found the time to become one of the founding members of the Indiana University Women’s Soccer team. Some quotes from her former teammates, “Betty, I don’t know if you will remember your old goalkeeper friend, but I certainly remember you, the very little Energizer Bunny with an amazing leg who was as tough as nails!”; also, “Betty is not a big person, but her kick was monumental. She’s the kind of person who has defined “I’ve got your back” on and off the field.”; and finally, “Betty and her perfect ‘I Mean Business’ braids and headband. You never wanted to make a mistake in the back to disappoint Betty, but you always knew Betty was there if you did. And off the field she was a softie.”
Betty had a long successful career at Bloomington Hospital, where she began as a pediatric nurse and ended working there as the Manager of Infection Control and Employee Health. Anyone remember Betty Bugs?
Before leaving Bloomington, Betty received her MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and then left for Arizona with her husband, Michael, where she continued to work in Infection Control and Employee Health.
While living in Arizona, Betty and her husband kept busy outside of work by playing in the City of Scottsdale Volleyball League. Her first year she played on the same team as her husband and placed second in the league. The next year she was recruited away from her husband’s team and they took first place. They gave her the trophy, and her husband never heard the end of that story!
Betty loved to travel and to explore other cultures. Her soccer playing took her to England, Scotland, and Iceland, and then she was able to spend a year in Italy studying Italian and Music at the Conservatory in Bologna.
Betty’s pets, Watson the Wonder Dog and Pumpkin the Cat, had a special place in her heart, as did other “critters” that crossed her path. Watson the Wonder Dog especially enjoyed watching the soccer games Betty played with the IU Women’s Soccer team, providing the half time entertainment for the fans by chest-trapping the ball and scoring goals. I think there was a little pork in Watson, he was such a ham!
Betty had the energy of a hundred people wrapped up in her little body. She did more in her short years on earth than most of us will ever accomplish in several lifetimes. She was a gifted musician, honors graduate, multi-talented athlete (did I mention she even won medals in slalom skiing?) and was the most loving, caring, kindest person I have ever known.
Betty is survived by her husband, Michael Hostetler; brother, Thomas of Bloomington, IN; brother, James (Gay Marie) of Oak Ridge, TN; brother, Edward (Ananda) of Villa Park, Ill; brother, William (Marcia) of Ann Arbor, MI; and sister Helen (George) of Kings Mountain, NC. Her parents, John A. Burnham and Elizabeth (Howard) Burnham, predeceased her.
Bloomington (IN) Herald-Times, February 16, 2018
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