Elizabeth "Betty" Ulrich

ELIZABETH "BETTY" ULRICH "Librarians never retire....they just check out" Elizabeth "Betty" Ulrich, founder and first librarian of Clear Lake's Freeman Memorial Library and recipient of the state of Texas Outstanding Children's Librarian award, died April 10, 2009. She was 92. In 1963, Betty and Ted were one of the first residents to move to Clear Lake City. Together with community volunteers, Betty volunteered her time to build a library from the ground up, which included soliciting funds from individuals and companies, building shelves, cataloging and processing the books. http://www.hcpl.net/branchinfo/fm/ulrichbio.htm Because of her devotion for teaching children to read, the children's room in the Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library is named "Betty's Place" in honor of Betty. She taught librarian certification courses at the University of Houston at Clear Lake and supervised intern librarians at various schools. Betty was an active member of the Webster Presbyterian Church for over 40 years and sang in the choir. Betty volunteered at local schools, libraries, and organizations for the elderly, including Meals on Wheels and ICM. She volunteered thousands of hours at the Freeman Branch Library, the Central Library of the Houston Public Library, the Evelyn Meador Branch, the library in the Webster Presbyterian Church, and the pediatric library in Hermann Hospital, which includes only a partial list of the libraries Betty supported over her lifetime. Her awards included the Siddie Joe Johnson Award by the Texas Library Association for her outstanding library service to the children of Texas; Outstanding Women of the Year of the Clear Lake Branch of the American Association of University Women; and Cambridge, England World's Who's Who of Women. An avid swimmer, she swam nearly 1/4 mile everyday for over 20 years, receiving awards for completing a combined total of over 1,000 miles. Betty is preceded in death by Ted, her husband of 58 years, her son Dr. Walter Ulrich (CCHS '69), and her brother Bill Bender. She is survived by her children: Stan, John, George, Nancy (Birdsong) (CCHS '71) and their spouses, 5 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren; and countless people whose lives she touched. A memorial for Betty Ulrich is scheduled for Sunday, June 14 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm at the Webster Presbyterian Church, 201 West NASA Pkwy, Webster, Texas 77598. 281-332-1251. Following the memorial, there will be a reception from 3:00pm to 4:30pm on Sunday, June 14 at the Clear Lake City-County Freeman Memorial Library, 16616 Diana Lane, Houston, Texas 77062. 281-488-1906. Betty's joy was teaching children to read and converting a non-reader into a reader. As a giver to the community, the family is asking that in her honor, you help maintain her giving hospitality by giving back to the community as well. It could be by 1) giving a book to someone in need or reading to someone, 2) donating to the Webster Presbyterian Church's new children's library, or 3) donating to "Betty's Room" at the Clear Lake City-Freeman Branch Library. We also ask that you share your giving experience with us by signing onto http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/bettyulrich/Homepage.aspx