Betty Jo Wages

Betty Jo Wages went home to be with her Lord on February 29, 2024. Betty was born June 28, 1926, in Ardmore, Oklahoma to Ancel and Bonnie (Segler) Love. She was the youngest of three children. She spent her childhood and school years in Ardmore and Allen, Oklahoma.

Betty met the love of her life, Harold Joe Wages, as a senior at Allen High School. They married the summer after she graduated (July 1944) in San Rafael, California where Harold had gone to work as a welder in the shipyards for the war effort. They began a life of devotion and adventure that lasted 64 years.

After spending a short time in California, they returned to Oklahoma. Betty worked as a telephone operator while her husband went to college to earn his bachelor’s degree. Harold joined the US Army to serve in the Korean War. While he was overseas, their first child was born, a daughter. Betty spent the next eight months as a new mom waiting for Harold to come home. After Harold returned from the war, he remained in active service. He was assigned to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. Another daughter was born to them during this time. From there the family moved to Columbus, Georgia where Harold was assigned to Fort Benning. Betty was supportive of each move and made each new place a pleasant home for her growing family.

Upon leaving active service and joining the Army Reserves, Harold moved his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma so he could attend law school. Again, Betty adjusted to life in a new city and busied herself being a wife, mother and homemaker. Another daughter was born after their move to Tulsa so now Betty found herself busy with three active little girls, a husband who worked full time, went to law school at night and served in the Army Reserves on weekends. Betty supported her husband by tending the home and raising the three girls almost single-handedly at times. She took them to church. She was involved in their school activities – serving on PTA, as a Girl Scout or Camp Fire leader, taking them to all their activities and making sure they did their schoolwork. She instilled in her three girls responsibility, good manners and morality.

Betty was a good and fun friend to many people. She had a zest for life. She had a great laugh, a beautiful smile, and beautiful blue eyes. She loved to play bridge and was a very skilled player. She loved games of all sorts and often played them with her girls. She was very competitive and never “let” anyone win – even her grandchildren! She was very fashionable and dressed very well. She was often teased that shopping was her favorite sport, because shop she could! Betty and Harold were amazing dancers and danced to the tunes of Glenn Miller, Elvis Presley, and Jim Croce to name a few. If it had a good beat, they were on the dance floor and were quite impressive. Betty loved to be outside working in the yard, walking, riding a bike or just sitting and enjoying the sun and fresh air. She loved to travel and never missed an opportunity to do so.

Harold rose to the rank of Two Star General in the US Army Reserves. Betty made a lovely and engaging first lady for his command. She accepted the responsibilities and entertained graciously and effectively. She learned Army protocol for the various ceremonies and events she was involved in and carried them off seamlessly. Some of her proudest moments were pinning the stars on her husband’s shoulders at his promotion ceremonies.

Christmas was Betty’s favorite holiday. She delighted in everything about it: the meaning of the season, the music, the decorations, the gift giving, the special cookies and pies she baked for her family. She earnestly shopped for each member of her family, trying to find gifts that reflected their personalities and needs and ones that expressed her love and appreciation for them. This was an opportunity for her generous nature to shine. Her family has fond memories of Christmas Eves and Christmas Days with piles of presents and the joyful look on her face as she watched everyone open their gifts.

Betty was an avid football fan, something she and Harold enjoyed watching together. When Monday Night Football was a “thing”, her daughters were instructed to never call unless it was an emergency. If you made the mistake and did call and it was not an emergency, it was an extremely short conversation! She could talk football coaches and players with the best of them. The University of Oklahoma football team was her all-time favorite and she was an avid fan.

Betty became the grandmother (fondly called Mimi) to two girls and delighted in them! She loved to take them shopping (no big surprise there!) and had so much fun when they were at her house. She was proud of them and never ceased to tell them so and how much she loved them.

Betty survived her husband by 15 years and what a strong and amazing woman she again proved herself to be. She moved many times in those 15 years and never complained. She adjusted and moved ahead, a trait her daughters admired about her. She was strong and courageous.

Betty overcame many adversities in life, not the least of which was being a cancer survivor. As mentioned, she raised her three girls many times without the presence of her husband because he was building and maintaining a successful career and rising through the ranks of the US Army Reserves. Harold was always appreciative of her devotion to him and to their three girls.

The last years of her life became more and more challenging, but she always looked forward and accepted what came her way with very little complaint. She was gracious to her caregivers, saying thank you when they assisted her. She never lost her beautiful smile and that twinkle in her big blue eyes.

Betty accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. Hers was a simple faith – Jesus died for her salvation. She believed that and she loved Him. The last few days of her life she would sometimes cry out, “Oh, how I love Jesus”! Precious memories.

Betty is survived by her daughter Teresa Kay and her husband Jim of Little Elm, Texas; daughter Monica Wages and her husband Cesar A. Obando of McKinney, Texas; daughter Valerie Martindale and her husband Charles of Fate, Texas; granddaughter Melinda King and her husband Jeff of Oak Point, Texas; and granddaughter Shannon Layer and her husband Eric of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She also had 5 great grandchildren whom she loved and adored and who always brought a smile of delight to her face: Lane and Violet King and James, Andrew and Bonnie Layer.

We can see mom now dancing over the streets of gold as she rejoices at the glorious reunion she is enjoying and basking in the presence of Jesus!

“For God so loved the world that His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life”. John 3:16

Private services were held for Betty, and she was laid to rest at Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas.

If desired, contributions may be made in Betty's name to the American Cancer Society at: https://donate.cancer.org/