Betty Blanche Browder

Betty Moomau Browder (1916-2011): Betty began life in Urbana, Illinois, the daughter of Cliff and Blanche Webber Moomau. She graduated from Urbana High School in 1934. In 1941, in Urbana, she married G. Norman Kennedy, originally of Pasadena, California. During World War II, Betty worked for the OSS in Washington D.C. After the war, the couple returned to Illinois where their sons were born, Scott in 1949 and Jim in 1954, both in Springfield. In September 1954, the family moved to California. Betty was a full-time homemaker until 1967, when she returned to secretarial work. Her community activities included the Sierra Madre Civic Club, the Los Angeles Orthopedic Hospital Auxiliary, and the Lawyers’ Wives of Pasadena. Betty began work as a judicial secretary for Los Angeles County in 1975, a few months prior to the death of her husband, Norm. In July 1984, at the 50th reunion of her Urbana High School, graduating class, Betty renewed her friendship with Bill Browder of Wilmette, Illinois. They had been friends since first grade. In January 1985, the couple married. They were happily married for twenty-four years until Bill’s death in 2009. Betty is survived by her sons, Scott Kennedy of Salem, Oregon and Birmingham, Alabama and Jim Kennedy of Redwood City, California. Besides her sons, survivors include Scott’s sons, Lee and Naresh, and his wife, Bridgett Kennedy. From her marriage to Bill, Betty is survived by stepson David Browder, his wife, Rusty, their two daughters and four grandchildren and stepdaughter Wendy Browder, her two children and two grandchildren. Betty lived a long and productive life and was highly regarded by those privileged to know her. She will be sorely missed. Graveside Service, 12 Noon on Saturday, July 2 will be held at the Sierra Madre Pioneer Cemetery. Contributions in her honor may be made to the Convalescent Aid Society, 3255 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107 and the Los Angeles Orthopedic Hospital Foundation, 2400 South Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90007. Assisting, Douglass & Zook Chapel of Remembrance FH, Monrovia.