Betty G. Staples, May 16, 1928 - March 9, 2026.
Betty G. Staples, age 97, passed away on March 9, 2026, at 7:50 PM CDT in Northwest Health-Porter, Valparaiso, Indiana. She was born on May 16, 1928, in Waterville, Maine.
Her parents were Frances Tweedie Giroux Wheeler and Raymond L. Giroux.
She graduated with honors from Waterville High School in 1946, where she was a cheerleader, president of the Art Club, and business manager of the yearbook. She was a student at the New England School of Art. She graduated from the Chandler Business School of Boston.
In 1949, she married William Staples, who preceded her in death in October 2012. They were married for 63 years. Betty was a service rep for New England Tel & Tel before raising their family. Surviving are her son, William Staples Jr. (Julie), of E Kingston, NH, and daughters Karen Hackett (Dr. Ernest), Port St. Lucie, FL, and Jane White (David, deceased), Springdale, AR. Six grandchildren, Wendy, Heather, Tracey, Michelle, Marcie, and Michael, six great-grandchildren, and her close friend, David Bradley.
Betty was the leader of the Junior Garden Club in Waterville, as well as leading Girl Scout troops. She served on the YMCA board and was a member of Pleasant St Methodist Church. She and her husband, Bill, owned Heart of Maine Aviation at the Waterville Airport, which Betty managed. There she oversaw an active flight school with Veterans, and ROTC students, a charter service for all points of the U.S. and Canada, and avionics shops, as well as being the Station Mgr for Executive Airlines.
When the family moved to Lowell, Mass., she became active at Highland Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School, was the assistant treasurer, and presided over “Susannah Wesley Guild” and the Administrative Council. In 1959, she moved with the family to Americus, GA, and then back to Mass. when Bill was transferred. The family returned to Maine when he became VP at Hathaway Shirt Co. There, she served on the YMCA Board, and again became a leader in Scouts.
In 1972, the family moved to Lansdale, PA, and Betty became the leader of the Newcomers Needlework Group, which met at her home. She won an award in the Bucks County annual prestigious Needlework Show.
In 1975, the family moved to Long Beach, IN. As a Weight Watchers leader in Michigan City and La Porte for 12 years, she lectured and counseled seven classes a week. At First United Methodist Church, she was on staff as Administrator, and as a church member for nearly 50 years, she chaired several of the committees and was a close friend of the pastors. She chaired the Esther Circle for over 35 years and was the church Membership Chair for nearly 30 years. When asked to write the inscriptions in all the new pew Bibles, she gladly did so with her beautiful penmanship.
Betty was an English as a Second Language tutor in the Literacy program at the Michigan City Library for 15 years and tutored students from 11 different countries, including teaching History and Civics to three students whom she helped to become US citizens. Betty bowled in the Long Beach and the Wednesday Breakfast Club Leagues. She won the City Bowl You Way to Europe contest and competed in Washington, D.C.
She dearly loved her family and all of their pets, from Heidi the St Bernard, to their Shih Tzus Rosie and Jewel, and Trixie, the cat, she said lived with them for 18 years. She loved to entertain in their home, loved her garden, baking, and her tole painting and needlework. She loved to do puzzles and was a Boston Red Sox fan from age ten. She kept bird feeders filled year-round and was knowledgeable about bird habits.
She knitted hundreds of nursery caps for World Vision that saved babies worldwide. She wrote poetry and essays, and her many readers loved he devotions.
Her faith in God was her reason for being upbeat and helping her many friends to rely on Jesus. She loved learning and was a faithful member of bible classes. She will be meeting up with her friends and family at Jesus' home and dancing without her wheelchair.
A memorial service will be at First United Methodist Church in Michigan City, Indiana, at a later date. She has requested that the dress code be casual. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 121 E 7th St, Michigan City, IN 46360, or the Michiana Humane Society, Highway 212, Michigan City, IN 46360. She loved her family, her friends, her church, and her church family. She also believes life is a journey and the destination is peace, love, and joy in God’s heavenly home.
To sign a guest book and leave condolences online, please visit
www.otthaverstock.com.
