Betty Willingham

Betty Sue Dudley Willingham
1930-2018

Betty Sue Dudley Willingham, age 88, of Belton went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, October 5, 2018. Betty was born in Dallas, Texas on August 24, 1930 to Mildred and Charles Dudley. She married John F. (Jeff) Willingham Sr. on August 22, 1947, in Kaufman. After traveling the world with the U.S. Army, living in Georgia, Washington, Kansas, and Germany, they returned to Texas in 1961, settling in Belton. Soon Betty became an active member of the Belton community working in retail at Ben Neuman’s and Schigut’s Department Stores before moving to the Bell County Tax Assessor's Office where she was later appointed as the Bell County Tax Assessor, filling Tolly Moore’s unexpired term as the county’s first woman Tax Assessor-Collector in 1987. After being elected to continue in office, she retired in 1995. Betty was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Belton and enjoyed many trips and outings with the Golden Age group.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Jeff; her parents; and her sister, Dina Waters of Gatesville.

She is survived by her children: John Willingham and his wife, Lorretta; James Willingham and his wife, Donna; and Dina Johnson and her husband, Bryant; six grandchildren Lori Rabroker and husband, Nick; Jeff Willingham, Jay Lacy, James Willingham, Joseph Clark, and Lindsey Willingham; and five great-grandchildren.

A time of visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 from 6-8 PM at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton. Funeral services will be held at the Dossman Funeral Home chapel on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at 2:00 PM with Rev. Andy Davis officiating. A private family burial will be at Friendship Cemetery in Milam County.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Project Apple Tree, in care of First Baptist Church, 506 N. Main St., Belton, Texas 76513.