BETTY JANE GRAVES
1923-2008

Betty Jane Graves, age 85 of Lompoc, passed away Monday, July 14, 2008. She was born March 2, 1923 to George and Lola Montgomery. She was born, raised and educated in Pittsburg, KS. She later married the love of her life, Fred Warren Graves. The couple made Long Beach, CA their home and traveled there by Harley-Davidson. It was in Long Beach that Betty served her country during WWII as a Rosie the Riveter.

The family moved to Newhall, CA and lived there for 30 years. Betty was a devoted homemaker to her husband and four boys and kept busy helping her husband with his dairy distributorship. She loved attending her boys' sporting events and later in life was an avid fan of Girls' College Softball. Betty loved to square dance and helped found the Quester's Club, which is dedicated to preserving historical artifacts. She also loved to read, sew, quilt, crochet and play Bunco. In her retirement years, she enjoyed traveling in her motorhome and was a member of the Motorhome Club and the Model T Ford Club of America.

She is survived by her four sons and their wives, George & Judy Graves of Canada, Steve & Carol Graves of Susanville, CA, Dennis & Charla Graves of Lake Hughes, CA, and Dean & Ronda Graves of Lompoc, CA; 8 grandchildren, Tim Graves and Beth Browers, Chris, Scott, Jesse, Corey, Amanda and Ian Graves, eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Betty will take place on Friday, July 18, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. in the Starbuck-Lind Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Julia Leeth of First Presbyterian Church to officiate. Interment will take place at a later date at Pine Mountain Cemetery in Atascadero.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the Lodge of Lompoc for the excellent care they gave Betty over the last year.