Betty Cohen

Betty (Elizabeth) Marie Cohen December 26, 2009 Betty was born to Charles and Frances Davis in 1923, in Topeka, Kansas. During World War II, she was a statistician for the US military. Her final assignment was at the Naval Ordnance Testing Station in China Lake, CA, where she met her future husband, Nathan Cohen, then a photographer on the rocket testing ranges. In 1946, they were married in Wichita, Kansas. From China Lake, Betty and Nate came to UC Berkeley, where she worked as a secretary while he earned his M.A. During this time, their children, David and Deborah, were born. The moves the family made, from town to town, were all occasioned by Nate's career advancements, but along the way, Betty worked to pay the bills, involved herself in the community, and continually advanced her own education. Nate earned his doctorate from Oregon State, and then came to Modesto Junior College in 1954 as a biology instructor. The family moved to El Cerrito in 1963; Nate ran special programs at UC Berkeley Extension and Betty worked, again, as a secretary on campus. Later, she enrolled at UC, graduating with a B.A. in History and a teaching credential. Betty taught at Oakland's Bella Vista Elementary School for 20 years; she was a dedicated teacher who found fulfillment working with Oakland students. Nate and Betty moved back to Modesto in 1994, where Deborah, her husband, and their children resided, and where Betty volunteered in Deborah's classroom. Betty was a great lover of dogs, enjoyed the Modesto Symphony, and working in her garden. Betty moved to The Stratford at Beyer Park in 2006, where she received wonderful support. Betty was predeceased by her brother William R. Davis of Salina Kansas, and by her husband Nathan. She will be deeply missed by her son David Cohen of Oakland, her daughter Deborah, son-in-law Ed Buettner, and their daughter Andrea, of Modesto, her brother Ted Davis of Wichita, Kansas, and by her many nieces and nephews. Contributions in her memory may be sent to: NorCal Retriever Rescue - 405 El Camino Real #420, Menlo Park, CA 94025 Southern Poverty Law, Teaching Tolerance - 400 Washington, Montgomery, AL 36104 A Celebration of Betty's life will be held at a later time; contact Deborah Buettner (ebdeb84@sbcglobal.net) or David Cohen (510-658-3039) for more information. A message page is provided at http://www.neptune-society.com/