Betty Grubbs

1918 - 2018

GRUBBS, Betty Mensinger May 15, 1918 December 2, 2018 Betty was born May 15, 1918, in Sharon, PA. From there, the daughter of Henry and Agnes Maxwell Mensinger lived a full century overflowing with a long and happy marriage, deep and enduring friendships, a remarkable career, teaching, public service, travel, art, theater, music, and golf. And she still managed to fit in a full schedule of University of Texas athletics for more than 65 years. Her parents imparted to Betty the value of a dollar, an education, having a purpose, and being independent. She remembered growing up in Erie, PA., fondlyespecially taking the train with her mom to watch professional baseball. After graduating from Pitt University with a Master's degree, Betty moved to Monterey, CA., to teach linguistics. During World War II, she volunteered to serve as a US Navy WAVE. As a paymaster, she carried a gun and an attitude. Payroll was always safe in Betty's hands. Her full uniform is part of the collection at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg. In California, Betty met and married Homer Grubbs, an accountant and manager in various business enterprises in Austin. They moved to Austin in 1952 and enjoyed playing golf, traveling and attending UT sporting events. Betty got a kick out of remembering how Homer would occasionally wake up hungry for huevos rancherosa hankering that took them to Saltillo, Mexico, more than once. Betty taught at UT's business school for a few years before joining the staff of the Social Security Administration (SSA). As a benefits counselor, she enjoyed traveling to small towns throughout Central Texas that didn't have their own SSA office. That kind of travel was uncommon for a woman back then. Betty would pull up a barrel in the back of a feed store or set up in a coffee shop to make it easy for people to meet with her. For more than 20 years, she hosted a TV show, wrote a newspaper column and conducted pre-retirement seminars for Austin seniors. After Homer's death in1996, Betty continued to travel the world. At 95, she took her last international trip to Manitoba to see the polar bears and mush the dog sleds. Her visit even made the Montreal newspaper with a front-page article in the Sunday paper. When air travel became too difficult, Betty learned to love a good road trip. Her final adventure was her first-ever visit to South Padre Island, where she especially enjoyed the birding center. Her intense interest and enjoyment in learning as much as possible about whatever was in front of her, made a trip with Betty a learning experience for all. Somehow, Betty found time to volunteer and support a variety of organizations. It would be impossible to list them all. She was involved with the UT Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, active in the American Association of University Women, a founding subscriber to Austin's KMFA classical radio. At 89, Betty was honored as Austin's Volunteer of the Year. Until she stopped driving, she was an active member of the University United Methodist Church. Throughout her life, Betty devoted time, energy and funding to boosting opportunities for women in education, business and athletics. Perhaps the finest example is her strong advocacy for UT's women's athletic programs. Prior to the Longhorn Foundation being created, she was an active fundraiser for women's sports for many years after Title IX had promised equality but little funding. She visited Austin businesses to sell tickets and sponsorships for the women's sports programs. Who could say no to this feisty woman, who believed so strongly in her Lady Longhorns. Betty and Homer were season ticket holders for football, baseball, softball, men's and women's basketball and volleyball. Betty maintained most of those tickets for the rest of her life and attended an astounding number of games and championships for all sports, including Texas-OU football games for over 55 consecutive years, the College World Series multiple times, the final four and playoff rounds for volleyball, basketball, women's basketball and, of course, baseball. Women's sports programs at UT will benefit from Betty's advocacy for years to come as funds from her estate will be dedicated to scholarships for women athletes. This is in keeping with Betty's strong belief in the importance of education for womena topic she was invited to share with the UT women's basketball team less than a month before she passed. Betty's estate will also support the baseball and softball programs. Betty is survived by a stepson, Homer Collins Grubbs of Mount Pleasant; step-granddaughter, Shannon Grubbs; sister-in-law Corinne Mensinger and nephew Daniel Mensinger, both of Riverside, CA. Treasured for her inquiring mind, loyal friendship, generosity, sharp wit and straight talk, Betty leaves a multitude of friends including the Onion Creek golf gang, the Wild Bunch luncheon group, the local AAUW chapter, to name just a few. Determined to live in her own home and as independently as possible, she was grateful to her "inner circle" of friends that helped achieve that goal, including Kaye Beneke, Jessie Farmer and family, Suzanne and Gary McIntosh, Jennifer Raybuck, and Mike and Carol Waters. Betty loved and appreciated her driver, shopping and errand assistant, Lucretia Hoff. And she was crazy about her primary care physician, Dr. Steven Dobberfuhl. No telling of Betty's story is complete without noting the amazing support she received from the City of Sunset Valleyespecially the men and women of the police department. What may have started out as routine community policing, grew into a full-fledged love between Betty and the SVPD. They were steadfast protectors of her safety and independence for many years. She was their advisor, confidante and grandmother figure. She delighted in seeing them succeed in their lives and careersand loved meeting their spouses and children. Friends will celebrate Betty's remarkable life on January 31, 2019, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Gary and Silvie Crum Touchdown Club in the North End Zone of Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. In appreciation for years of their caring service and friendship to Betty, officers of the SVPD will serve as honorary pall bearers. Instead of flowers, Betty would encourage donations to the Sunset Valley Police Department, American Association of University Women, Fellowship of Christian Athletes UT Chapter or a charity of your choice.