Elizabeth Ware Harper, known as “Betsy” to friends and family, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2009. Born May 31, 1923, in New York, she grew up spending her summers on Martha’s Vineyard Island, Massachusetts. She attended Whee-lock College in Boston, Massachusetts, and became an elementary school teacher. On June 14, 1947, she married William “Bill” Woodhouse Harper. Over the years, they moved to New Jersey, spent some years living in Florida and ultimately moved to San Diego, California. In California, Betsy became a preschool teacher for years, but in 1976 went to work for Sea World in San Diego, California. Betsy worked in the merchandise department of Sea World for 33 years enjoying the beauty of the park and the friendship of her co-workers. Betsy loved animals, in particular her cats, but to know Betsy, you would know that the real loves of her life were her three daughters and two grandchildren. Betsy is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Jack and Paul, her sister Anne and her husband Bill. She is survived by her sister Patricia Ware Vann of Martha’s Vineyard, MA; her daughter, Wendy Ware Harper of San Diego, CA; her daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth (Libby) and Peter Caffall-Davis of Hyder, Alaska; daughter and son-in-law, JudyAnne Harper and Charles Snyder of San Diego, CA; and her two grandchildren, Katherine “Katie” Snyder and Charles “Chuckie” Snyder of San Diego, CA. Memorial contributions may be made to Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741-5000. A Celebration of Betsy’s Life will be held Friday, August 28, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church Chapel. Interment is planned for a later date at Oak Grove Cemetery on Martha’s Vineyard Island, Tisbury, MA.

Source:  San Diego Union-Tribune, The (CA) – Thursday, August 27, 2009