Betsy King

Rita St. Germain King (Betsy), 89, beloved wife of John James King, Sr., of 1201 Cobbs Glen Drive, passed away January 7, 2010 at Wesley Commons Nursing Home, Greenwood, SC.

Born in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Charles St. Germain and Mary Nadeau St. Germain. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where she was an active parishioner serving on the Altar guild for many years. Betsy was retired from Anderson School District 5 where she was a library assistant at Lakeside Jr. High School for 18 years. She was an avid reader. She enjoyed playing golf and was a member of the Cobbs Glen country club, where she and her late husband were made honorary members.

Betsy is survived by her loving children: one son John James King, Jr. of Summerville; two daughters, Margaret King Miller “Maggie” and her husband, Tim of Greenwood; Deborah King Fuller “Debbie” and her husband, Matt of Bahama, NC; ten grandchildren: Krista King Hassel and husband, Dan of Summerville; Peter Benjamin Speares and wife, Debbie of Lexington; JoLynn Speares Hinz and husband, Brian of West Columbia; Daniel Scott Speares and wife, Olivia of Gaston, SC; Jennifer Speares Lehman and husband, Tim of Simpsonville; Aimee Speares Sanders and husband, Alan of Greenwood; Mary Allison Speares Collins and Bill Kimberling of Ninety Six; Lara Germain Fuller of Greenville, NC; Katherine Abigail Fuller of Bahama, NC; John Samuel Fuller of Bahama, NC and thirteen great grandchildren; two sisters -in-law, Sophia King of Greenfield, MA and Amelia King of Hartford, CT. She was predeceased by a grandson John Joseph Speares “Josh” and five sisters, Lucy Peloquin, Marion Hosley, Helen Gagnon, Patsy Tessier, and Rose Krysl.

Betsy was loved, cherished and respected by her late husband John of 68 years. She was admired and loved by her 3 children unconditionally. She was a woman of great strength and fortitude, steadfast to God, her faith and fellow man. She was kind, genuinely thoughtful, caring, and compassionate. She always put her family’s needs and those of other’s first. She dearly loved people. Her true character and strength showed through her care of her husband, whom had Alzheimer’s for 5 years. She was so strong and admirable, and never once complained. She has passed down to her three children and grandchildren many great values and what the quality of life should be about. She was and is our hero.

Family and friends are welcome to attend a Mass of Christian Burial, Monday at 3:30 PM at St Joseph Catholic Church in Anderson, SC. Graveside services will follow at M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery. The family would like to request flowers be omitted and memorials made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1303 McLees Rd., Anderson, SC, 29621 or M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veteran Cemetery, 140 Inway Drive, Anderson, SC 29621.

A special Thank you from our family to all the friends and caregivers who have helped at this most difficult time.

SULLIVAN-KING MORTUARY, www.sullivanking.com