Betty M. Minear

BETTY M. MINEAR, 99, beloved wife of Jimmy “Jim” Minear, passed away Monday, November 27, 2023 in Benton House of Aiken.

Betty was born in Centerville, PA on April 27, 1924 to C. Glen and Gladys Gween Riggle.  She was preceded in death by her parents and son, Alan.

Betty attended Liberty Business School in Washington, PA and was employed by the Columbia Gas Co. and Jones & Loughlin Steel Co.

On a trip to Florida to visit her sister in Winter Park, she applied at Martin Marietta, Orlando and was hired as a secretary.  She was assigned to various communication, missile and ground support programs.

She married her husband Jim, who was also with Martin Marietta in 1964.  They were both transferred to the Baltimore, MD plant in 1981 on the Navy Vertical Launch Program and she was promoted to executive secretary to the VP.

In 1988, Jim was assigned to head a public relations office in Aiken for the company who was bidding for operations at SRP.  They were so impressed with Aiken, that she took retirement to join him here and they purchased a lot in Houndslake North for retirement.

Having lost the bid, Jim was reassigned to the Naval Vertical Launch System Life Cycle Support Facility in Ventura, CA.  He took early retirement from Lockheed Martin and returned to Aiken in 1990.

Betty was a volunteer in the Aiken County Museum gift shop and was active in the Newcomers, Red Hat Society, Town and Country, PEO and her Canasta, Hand and Foot card playing group.

She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Jim; sons, Kenneth Minear (Deniese), Peachtree City, GA, Richard Minear (Julie), Atlanta; eight grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Saturday morning, December 16th at 11 o'clock in the chapel of St. John's United Methodist Church with The Revs. Dr. W. Timothy McClendon and Grayson "Butch" Blackwell officiating.

The family would like to thank the Benton House staff for all their care and concern.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to ACTS (actsofaiken.org) or to St. John’s United Methodist Church. P.O. Box 809, Aiken, SC 29802.

SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC