Betty Jo Pennington, 93, of Pennington and San Antonio, TX, passed away peacefully Friday, Feb. 23, 2018. with family by her side. Betty Jo was born in Greeley, CO, to Byron Hudson and Lucile Shelley Hudson. Her father was a cattle brand inspector and mother was a one-room schoolhouse teacher. Betty Jo and her four younger siblings grew up on ranches in Wyoming and Colorado. She had a rustic and adventurous childhood living without electricity or running water until her family moved to Cheyenne Wells, CO, in her senior year in high school. Betty Jo was the oldest child and the first in her family to attend college, graduating with a degree in library science from Texas State College for Women (now TWU). She started her career as a childrens' librarian in Owatonna, MN, and after the first brutally cold winter answered an ad for a children's librarian in Kailua, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. There she met a dashing young Naval officer named Jack Pennington who would become her life partner for over 60 years. They were blessed with five children born on military bases in Hawaii, Japan, California, and Virginia. After Jack retired from the Navy in the mid 1960s, they settled in Pennington. Betty Jo continued her lifetime love of books and children by working as a librarian at Tollgate Grammar School and volunteering at the local library, school, and church. She was a woman of strong faith and a lifelong Methodist; she was also a past president of the Women's Society of Christian Service. Finally and most important to her, she was a wonderful and caring daughter, wife, sister, mother, grandmother, mentor, and friend. She was predeceased by her husband, Jack; brother, Dr. Donald Hudson, and sister, Mae Pelton. She is survived by five children, Steven, Shelley, Amy, Ella, and Beth; two sisters, Bobbie Dawes and Sally Hollenbaugh, sister-in-law, LaVonne Hudson; nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild who she loved and adored. The family will celebrate her life at a service on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, at the Pennington United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, contributions may be made to Pennington Public Library, 30 North Main St., Pennington, NJ 08534. Local arrangements are by the Blackwell Memorial Home. For condolences, visit blackwellmh.com. Blackwell Memorial Home 21 N. Main St. Pennington, NJ 08534 609-737-2900
Published in The Times, Trenton, on Feb. 27, 2018