In Memory Of
Elizabeth Betty Barger
1941
2019
Elizabeth Betty Barger
July 3, 1941 — August 29, 2019
Born Josephine Elizabeth Blakeslee on July 3, 1941, Elizabeth 'Betty' Barger died on August 29, 2019. She was 78. She had a brief, but intense, battle with Pancreatic cancer; facing it head on with dignity, resolution, courage, and grace. She would sometimes comment how she was surprised that she wasn't a puddle of tears and self-pity in her situation, but quickly rejoined her own observation by giving credit to God for His blessing and strength in leading her through the valley.
She was born to the late Horace and Alice Blakeslee in Philadelphia, PA. Her father was a career Navy man moving here and there over the years along with siblings, Alice and Bill. Her mother and father influenced greatly who she would become. Duty and commitment were learned from Pop. Love, caring and her deep commitment to motherhood and family from Mother. Her father was in the Pacific theater those first years until the conclusion of WWII. After the War, he and Alice moved the family briefly to a mine-testing base in Maryland until his Navy retirement. From there, the family moved to Havertown, where Horace taught at Drexel. She and her siblings gained a keen understanding of the importance of education from an early age, often surrounded by books related to her father's teaching career. The time spent at a cabin in Sassafras every summer was a childhood highlight for Betty. She had many fond memories with her siblings doing what kids do when let loose in the great outdoors. Often barefoot, damp, and dirty, she and her brother could be found crabbing with a string and net or any number of things, mischievous or otherwise.
She met her husband of 53 years, the late John S. Barger, while he awaited his first duty assignment after flight school. She was in nursing school at the time, but left school when they married in 1961. She was back on the move again, now as a Navy wife and soon the mother of three. For the next several years they moved back and forth across the country until John's separation from the Navy in 1969. They were in the Chicago area briefly then settled permanently in Orlando, Florida. Her early years on or near the water and as the daughter of one Navy man and wife of another, led to yearly family trips to the U.S. Virgin Islands to sail. The family spent a lot of quality time swimming, hiking and exploring the then much less-populated destination. She and John carried on their passion for sailing for another 20 years after the children were moved away. Their plan to sail the high seas didn't work out, but they still enjoyed spending time on their own 34-foot sailboat. They could often be found anywhere from the Bahamas to Florida's east Coastal waters or inland waterways. It was a great platform from which to sail up to and observe the Space Shuttle launches in the '80's and '90's.
She leaves behind three children, Jeffrey Barger of Wetumpka, Alabama, Debra Phillips-Palmer of Geneva, Florida, and Cheryl Austin of Jacksonville, Florida; five grandchildren, Samantha, Canaan, Jordan, Sarah and Joshua; and seven great-grandchildren, Barrett, Connor, Blake, Isabel, Charlotte, Riley and Anna. During the nearly 50 years she lived in Orlando, she was continually serving others, oftentimes sacrificially, giving more than she could ever expect to receive. She never did expect to receive back from all she gave, but in those final weeks, she was surrounded by many who cared for and appreciated her for all she did during her life of giving. Raising three children was no picnic, but she always had time for them and was patient with their antics, understanding with their problems, forgiving of their errors, but mostly, always there when she was needed. No on ever felt unloved when around Mom.
Outside of the family, she was active in the community through service, participating in several activities. She was a member of The Messiah Choral Society and performed yearly Handel's Messiah for over 45 years. She loved singing and enjoyed the formal and less formal performances alike. She worked often over the decades as a loyal, giving and dependable companion for the elderly and not-so-elderly in the area. Many people counted on her for a comforting visit, time spent with a caring friend or to have various things done for them that they were unable to do. Off and on for several years she even did some professional work as a caregiver. Often that work would lead to a life-long and devoted friendship. She became deeply involved with raising service dogs for the last 30 years of her life. She was a puppy raiser for both Canine Companions for Independence and the Southeastern Guide Dog Association separately during those years. Puppy raising would become her primary passion as it became and integral part of all the other things she did for others. It is remarkable how much goes into the care, nurturing and raising of a single service dog, as much as two years. Yet, she found time to serve as a primary trainer to the training of over two dozen dogs that would go on to provide service and companionship to people in need. The number of other dogs trained and assisted in the process of training and raising, anywhere from a few weeks to several months of work, is in the several dozens. Even her husband John eventually embraced her enthusiasm and could often be seen at her side and events involving the dogs. The dogs became an integral part of her outreach to the elderly, homebound or hospitalized, including children. The animals always brought a smile to faces and maybe a giggle or two from young and old alike. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were always delighted by the puppies and young dogs. She was among the pioneers of establishing the usefulness and capabilities of legitimate service animals.
Betty will be greatly missed by family and friends in particular and, no doubt, by the countless people whose lives she influenced and shared. We can all count ourselves blessed to have known her. We would all do well to pay forward her acts of kindness, caring and compassion. She gave God the glory for her life well lived. May we all do the same.
God Bless you Betty and rest in peace.
Celebration of Life will be held at Altamonte Chapel at 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 28th.
Altamonte Chapel
825 E Altamonte Drive
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
https://www.altamontechapel.com
She was born to the late Horace and Alice Blakeslee in Philadelphia, PA. Her father was a career Navy man moving here and there over the years along with siblings, Alice and Bill. Her mother and father influenced greatly who she would become. Duty and commitment were learned from Pop. Love, caring and her deep commitment to motherhood and family from Mother. Her father was in the Pacific theater those first years until the conclusion of WWII. After the War, he and Alice moved the family briefly to a mine-testing base in Maryland until his Navy retirement. From there, the family moved to Havertown, where Horace taught at Drexel. She and her siblings gained a keen understanding of the importance of education from an early age, often surrounded by books related to her father's teaching career. The time spent at a cabin in Sassafras every summer was a childhood highlight for Betty. She had many fond memories with her siblings doing what kids do when let loose in the great outdoors. Often barefoot, damp, and dirty, she and her brother could be found crabbing with a string and net or any number of things, mischievous or otherwise.
She met her husband of 53 years, the late John S. Barger, while he awaited his first duty assignment after flight school. She was in nursing school at the time, but left school when they married in 1961. She was back on the move again, now as a Navy wife and soon the mother of three. For the next several years they moved back and forth across the country until John's separation from the Navy in 1969. They were in the Chicago area briefly then settled permanently in Orlando, Florida. Her early years on or near the water and as the daughter of one Navy man and wife of another, led to yearly family trips to the U.S. Virgin Islands to sail. The family spent a lot of quality time swimming, hiking and exploring the then much less-populated destination. She and John carried on their passion for sailing for another 20 years after the children were moved away. Their plan to sail the high seas didn't work out, but they still enjoyed spending time on their own 34-foot sailboat. They could often be found anywhere from the Bahamas to Florida's east Coastal waters or inland waterways. It was a great platform from which to sail up to and observe the Space Shuttle launches in the '80's and '90's.
She leaves behind three children, Jeffrey Barger of Wetumpka, Alabama, Debra Phillips-Palmer of Geneva, Florida, and Cheryl Austin of Jacksonville, Florida; five grandchildren, Samantha, Canaan, Jordan, Sarah and Joshua; and seven great-grandchildren, Barrett, Connor, Blake, Isabel, Charlotte, Riley and Anna. During the nearly 50 years she lived in Orlando, she was continually serving others, oftentimes sacrificially, giving more than she could ever expect to receive. She never did expect to receive back from all she gave, but in those final weeks, she was surrounded by many who cared for and appreciated her for all she did during her life of giving. Raising three children was no picnic, but she always had time for them and was patient with their antics, understanding with their problems, forgiving of their errors, but mostly, always there when she was needed. No on ever felt unloved when around Mom.
Outside of the family, she was active in the community through service, participating in several activities. She was a member of The Messiah Choral Society and performed yearly Handel's Messiah for over 45 years. She loved singing and enjoyed the formal and less formal performances alike. She worked often over the decades as a loyal, giving and dependable companion for the elderly and not-so-elderly in the area. Many people counted on her for a comforting visit, time spent with a caring friend or to have various things done for them that they were unable to do. Off and on for several years she even did some professional work as a caregiver. Often that work would lead to a life-long and devoted friendship. She became deeply involved with raising service dogs for the last 30 years of her life. She was a puppy raiser for both Canine Companions for Independence and the Southeastern Guide Dog Association separately during those years. Puppy raising would become her primary passion as it became and integral part of all the other things she did for others. It is remarkable how much goes into the care, nurturing and raising of a single service dog, as much as two years. Yet, she found time to serve as a primary trainer to the training of over two dozen dogs that would go on to provide service and companionship to people in need. The number of other dogs trained and assisted in the process of training and raising, anywhere from a few weeks to several months of work, is in the several dozens. Even her husband John eventually embraced her enthusiasm and could often be seen at her side and events involving the dogs. The dogs became an integral part of her outreach to the elderly, homebound or hospitalized, including children. The animals always brought a smile to faces and maybe a giggle or two from young and old alike. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were always delighted by the puppies and young dogs. She was among the pioneers of establishing the usefulness and capabilities of legitimate service animals.
Betty will be greatly missed by family and friends in particular and, no doubt, by the countless people whose lives she influenced and shared. We can all count ourselves blessed to have known her. We would all do well to pay forward her acts of kindness, caring and compassion. She gave God the glory for her life well lived. May we all do the same.
God Bless you Betty and rest in peace.
Celebration of Life will be held at Altamonte Chapel at 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 28th.
Altamonte Chapel
825 E Altamonte Drive
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
https://www.altamontechapel.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elizabeth Betty Barger, please visit our flower store.
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