Amelia "Betty" Elizabeth Smith

Amelia Elizabeth “Betty” Smith was born on June 26, 1920 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Griff and Agnes Forney. Betty walked into heaven on April 17, 2014 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 93. Betty grew up in the Lancaster area of Pennsylvania. Betty graduated from high school in 1937 and moved to Philadelphia to attend technical school to become a Medical Lab Technician. In 1940 Betty moved to Houston, Texas to work in a physician’s office. In December of 1942 Betty enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC). Her battalion was shipped to Scotland and then onto England where Betty worked as a teletype operator. Betty was also stationed in France, Belgium, and eventually in Berlin, Germany. Betty was discharged in August 1946. She attended Jr. College of Connecticut and Temple University in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She met her future husband William L. “Bill” Smith at college and they married, August 20, 1949 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Betty and Bill moved to Norman, Oklahoma for Bill to attend University of Oklahoma. During that time Betty worked for Psychology Department at OU. After Bill graduated they moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and later to Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Betty was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. She served as a troop leader and board member for many years for the Girl Scouts of America both in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Betty continued to be involved with women in the military throughout her life. Betty returned to work at the age of 60 for the VA Hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She retired at the age of 72. Betty spent her retirement enjoying the activities she loved, hiking with friends, visiting national historic sites and parks, attending WAC reunions, genealogy, and studying wildlife. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Bill. She is survived by daughter Linda Engel and husband, Mike of Tulsa, Oklahoma, son Lance Smith and wife, Mary Jo of Tulsa, Oklahoma and son Keith Smith of Sumas, Washington. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Kerri Dugan, Carla Engel, Patrick Engel, Suzanne Watson, Luke Smith, and Jessica Carter and 10 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Siloam Springs or Girl Scouts of America. The service will be a graveside service held at Fayetteville National Cemetery, 700 S. Government Avenue, Fayetteville, Arkansas at 2 PM on Friday, April 25, 2014.

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Amelia "Betty" Elizabeth Smith

June 26, 1920 - April 17, 2014