Betty B. David

Betty B. David , 93, of Ithaca, NY passed away at home on Monday, November 30, 2020. She was born in Slaterville, NY on December 25, 1926 - a daughter of the late Donald R. and Ruth A. (English) Besemer.

With the exception of living three years in Scottsdale Arizona in 1942 – 1944, Betty lived in Ithaca, NY for the remainder of her life.   She graduated from Ithaca High School in 1945. She met and married Michael David on June 20, 1946.

Betty’s career began working as an assistant at GLF. She later attended Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration to take a keyboarding (typing) class that opened an opportunity to become a teaching assistant in the Keyboarding classes at the Hotel School. Her profession at the Hotel School continued as she was later promoted to a Senior Lecturer for the Computing Information System department. She participated in designing the new curriculum for computers. She mentored students as an advisor throughout their undergraduate career. Betty retired in 2002.

Betty was a member of the Snyder Hill and Brooktondale Baptist Church.

She enjoyed collecting recipes and cookbooks and consequently was an excellent cook. Many of her meals were shared with her family and friends on weekends. She enjoyed crocheting and painting ceramics in her spare time. Working on Sudoku puzzles was a favorite daily past time. She loved plants and flowers – orchids were her passion. Our lives will always be inspired by her deep respect for nature and people and her generous responsibility of caring for both.

Betty is survived by her son Joseph and daughter-in law Jean of Ithaca, NY and their children Jeffrey (Jennifer) of Leesburg, Virginia and Jennifer (Tim Lane) of Ithaca; and her son James and daughter-in-law Maria from Arlington Virginia and their children Kristin (Stephen Burch), Shannon (Jacob Hampton), of Arlington Virginia, CJ of New York City, and Ellen Michelle of Austin, Texas. Betty’s pride and joy were her 9 great grandchildren – Charleigh, Jaxson, Claire David , Mikey Lane; Collin, Bennett, Ella ,Addison Burch; and James Hampton. She is also survived by nieces and nephews

Both her parents Donald and Ruth Besemer, husband Michael David, and brothers Cary and Gaylord Besemer, predeceased her.

Betty will be interred privately at the Snyder Hill Cemetery. To honor her memory please feel free to support a charity of your choice.