SOUTH OTSELIC – Betty A. Downing, 77, of State Highway 26, passed away Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012 at Chenango Memorial Hospital, Norwich.
She was born Aug. 5, 1935 in Columbus, a daughter of Linn J. and Blanche E. Penner Rowe and was a graduate of Morris High School. On July 29, 1961, Betty married Ivan Paul Downing, Jr. in North Norwich. Betty started her career as a telephone operator and worked at several area insurance agencies, retiring from Gates-Cole Insurance Agency in Norwich.
Betty was a member of the United Methodist Church in South Otselic. She loved her pet birds and feeding the wild birds as well.
Surviving are her husband, Ivan Paul Downing; her children, Bonny and Robert VanCourt of Hamilton; Jodie and Nathan Maynard of South Otselic; a brother and sister-in-law, Clarence and Helen Rowe of Sherburne; brother-in-law, Doug Gibbs of Rome; grandchildren, Cayla VanCourt and Ashlee VanCourt; step-grandchildren, Kriss Young, Ian Maynard and Benjamin Maynard; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Olive Gibbs, a brother, Albert Rowe; and a granddaughter, Carey VanCourt.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the North Norwich Cemetery.
Friends are invited to call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the South Otselic Fire Department.
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.