Obituary of Betty J. Bing

Betty J. Bing, 92, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 21, 2007. She passed away at Christiana Care Hospital after a brief illness. Betty was born in Amsterdam, New York, on April 24, 1915. She was the daughter of Florence Gillies and William Devine. She was the step-daughter of George Shuttleworth. Betty graduated from Lynch High School in 1934, where she participated in many student activities. Betty was the Girl's Tennis Champion in 1931. She was the undefeated Ladies' Champion from 1933-35. She also was a football cheerleader, teamed with a young Isadore Demsky, who later became famous as Kirk Douglas. Betty was very proud to have earned the "Gold Eaglet" medal in Girl Scouts. Betty studied nursing and became a licensed practical nurse. She married William A. Bing Jr. in 1936. Mr. Bing was a pilot. The couple resided in Amsterdam before moving to Schenectady. Betty operated a thriving day nursery there for a number of years. She had a strong impact on the children she cared for, some of whom stayed in contact with her. In 1962, they relocated to the Utica area where she worked as a private duty nurse. Mr. and Mrs. Bing resided in Whitesboro from 1969 through 2002. Since then, Mrs. Bing has lived with her daughters, Betty of Newark, Delaware, and Caroline of Mansfield, Ohio. More recently, she was a resident of the Waterford independent living facility in Mansfield. She recently moved back to Delaware, but suffered several health setbacks which led to her being hospitalized. Betty always enjoyed visits from her children and grandchildren. She decorated her home with beautiful antiques. She especially loved antique dolls and was an active member of the Heritage Doll Club in Utica, serving as vice-president for eleven years. Mrs. Bing was pre-deceased by her sister, Eleanor Hewson, and her brother, George Shuttleworth. Her son, William Bing III, passed away in 1989. Mrs. Bing's husband of sixty-seven years, William, died in 2003. Mrs. Bing is survived by her two daughters, Betty Bosch and Caroline Koehler. In addition, Mrs. Bing leaves eleven grandchildren: William, Micah and Benjamin Bing, Becky Black, David and Timothy Koehler, Kathi Dyer, Christian and Abraham Bosch, Betty Jane Trumbull and Caroline Finnie. Mrs. Bing also leaves 23 great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews and in-laws. Known to the children as "Grammie", Mrs. Bing established a legacy of Christian faith in her family that will carry through generations. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday August 25, 2007 at 11:00 AM at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam. Burial will take place in Fairview Cemetery in Amsterdam. Calling Hours will be held on Friday from 5 to 7 PM at the funeral home.