Betty Ruth Rhodes

1927 - 2024

Betty Ruth Vaughn was born in Taft, California on December 13, 1927 to Charles and Harriet Vaughn. Soon after her birth, her family moved to Ventura County where she lived for most of her life. After graduating from Fairfax High in Los Angeles, she attended Los Angeles City College and Ventura Junior College. She met and married Thomas Rhodes in 1951 and had four children. When the young family moved to Camarillo into their newly built dream home, Tom and Betty took up the game of golf. They enjoyed many years of the game with their close group of friends. Betty was involved in volunteer work most of her adult life and was an active member of Assistance League of Ventura County. The couple relocated to Napa in 1988 to be closer to family.

Tom passed away in 1990, and soon after Betty began volunteering at the Napa Visitor Center. She was 63 years old when she began her journey into senior advocacy. She was appointed to the Napa County Commission on Aging where she served for many years. Continuing her advocacy work, she served on the Board of Directors of the Napa/Solano Area Agency on Aging. As a member of the California Senior Leadership Alliance, Betty joined others at the State Capitol to advocate for seniors with California legislators. She worked on the Napa County District Attorney's Elder Abuse Planning and Prevention Council. She may be best known for the Napa County Caregiving Ordinance, California's first background check mandate for caregivers of senior residents. Due to her diligence, as part of a group she called the Dream Team, this ordinance went into effect in 2011 and became known locally as "Betty's Law". More recently, she also represented the interests of Napa County Seniors on the Paratransit Council through the Napa County Transportation Commission. She was delighted to serve on the Board of Molly's Angels, which provides transportation and support services to seniors in Napa. For her tireless efforts, Betty has been honored by the Napa Valley Chamber of Commerce as Community Booster of the Year in 2008. The Napa Board of Supervisors read a proclamation in 2016 celebrating her efforts entitled, "Betty Rhodes--Bathed in Hope." Bill Dodd presented her with another proclamation from the California State Assembly that year extolled her long and distinguished record of leadership and applauding her public achievements. Most recently, in 2022, US Congressman Mike Thompson, awarded Betty with Napa County Woman of the Year.

For nearly twenty years, Betty wrote Life with Joy and Senior Corner, for Napa Valley residents focusing on issues she hoped would interest seniors. Her main message was often centered around remaining physically and mentally healthy as we grow older. In one of her earlier articles, she said that she didn't mind getting older, she just didn't want to BE old. "As long as you are just 'getting older' you are still vital. Stay engaged in activities that are beneficial to others. Find ways to give back to others. Be helpful and help others for as long as you are able."

She was always young at heart. At the age of 80 she was the oldest person to join Leadership Napa Valley. Her age did not hold her back, as she successfully completed a team building effort at a ropes course. At 95, following a series of falls that she wrote about in her column, Betty moved to Aegis where she had a wonderful team of people caring for her needs. She had a gift for turning a conversation that would focus solely on the other person and make them feel good about themselves. Betty lived her entire life with a great love and caring of others and her enthusiasm and encouragement for others will be forever missed.

Betty passed away peacefully at Queen of the Valley Hospital on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at the wonderful age of 96. She was attended by her devoted family. She is survived by her children, Greg (Denise) Rhodes, Susan (Rex) Fuller, Steve (Della) Rhodes, and Judy (Mark) Schindler, eight grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Norm (Sue) Vaughn and his two sons.

A memorial will be held at Napa Senior Center on Sunday, February 25 at 2:00 pm. The family has requested that Molly's Angels be the preferred recipient of any thoughtful donations in her memory. Betty Ruth Rhodes