‘Grandma Betsy’ honored with birthday luncheon

Special to the NEWS

Grandma Betsy

Betty Lou (Betsy) Alexander Holbert or better known as “Grandma Betsy” celebrated her 80th birthday recently. Also shown is a picture of Grandma Betsy when she was the head cheerleader for San Benito High School in 1948. (Courtesy photos)

Betty Lou (Betsy) Alexander Holbert or better known as “Grandma Betsy” was honored with a luncheon Sunday, Aug. 14, at the San Benito First Presbyterian Church, where she celebrated her 80th birthday.

Betsy was born at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen Aug. 11, 1931. She attended schools in San Benito and graduated with the San Benito High School Class of 1948, when she was the school’s head cheerleader.

Betsy married Robert W. Holbert from La Feria and lived there seven years running the family’s citrus nursery. After two freezes, she and her husband moved to Victoria where he worked for Union Carbide Corporation.

Bob and Betsy had two children, Robbie, who has passed, and Chickie who lives in New Mexico. Betsy is also blessed with seven grandchildren. They are Jeremy, Stephen, Tommy, Misty, Hillary, Andrea, Allie including numerous great grandchildren.

Betsy attended junior college while in Victoria. She and her husband then moved to Brazil where Bob helped start a new plant. After four years in Brazil, they moved to Bay City, Texas where Bob was a senior supervisor for Seadrift Pipeline Corporation, which is a subsidiary of Union Carbide, now owned by DOW Chemical Corporation.

Betsy and Bob were active members of Grace Presbyterian Church in Victoria for many years. He was a Deacon and Betsy taught Sunday school, not to mention leading the youth groups. They were also members of First Presbyterian Church in Bay City. Betsy taught kindergarten Sunday school, led the senior and junior high youth groups, and served as an elder and president of the Women’s Organization. Bob was Sunday School Superintendent and was an elder for several terms, sang in the choir and was on several pastoral committees and chairman of two. He was always supportive and aided Betsy in all her church and community-wide endeavors.

After losing her husband four and a half years ago, Betsy moved back to San Benito where she is now a member of the San Benito First Presbyterian Church.

Betsy’s hobby is porcelain painting. She has been named by the session as congregational visitor.

To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the Aug. 17 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2011/08/16/%e2%80%98grandma-betsy%e2%80%99-honored-with-birthday-luncheon/

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