Johnson City, Tn – Betty White Gigler passed peacefully from this life into the loving arms of our Lord on November 29, 2021 at Abundant Christian Living Nursing Home in Johnson City, Tn. She was 91 years old.
Born in Elizabethton, Tn on March 10, 1930, she was the second child and first daughter of O. W. (Hi) and Edith Hampton. She is survived by her loving husband Fred Gigler of Jonesborough, Tn.
Betty graduated from Pen Argyl High School, in Pen Argyl, Pa in 1948 and resided in Hatboro, Pa for 10 years.
In 1961, she moved to New York and was a 40 year resident of Hyde Park and Poughkeepsie, NY.
Betty was named Mother of the Year in 1964 by the Hyde Park Townsman, a prize she was very proud of. They recognized her for baking homemade bread and making her children’s clothes.
Betty was a pioneer businesswoman, working at Marine Midland Bank for 30 years, where she was promoted to Assistant Regional Manager. During these years, Betty was a member of Zonta Businesswomen’s Club, the American Banking Association, Camerata Choral and the local community theatre company.
She was a long term member of the Hyde Park United Methodist Church where you could hear her beautiful soprano voice in the choir on Sunday morning. She also sang at Vassar Temple in Poughkeepsie for 20 years.
On New Year’s Day 2000, Betty married Fred Gigler in Jonesborough, Tn where she has lived ever since. She was an active member of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church in Jonesborough, Tn.
Betty was a kind and caring wife and mother who loved her children and grandchildren dearly and had many, many friends. She loved to dance and music was her passion. She had a beautiful singing voice and spent much of her time sharing her talent with church members and at nursing homes. She enjoyed knitting and needlework for many years of her life. She also loved her loyal dog Ruby.
She raised strong daughters and taught them how to be independent and resilient.
Betty is survived by her children Brenda Leonelli (Mark Severson) of Elizabethton, Tn, Rhonda Baskwill (Jim Bishop) of Saugerties, NY, Dawn Suchy of Perkasie, Pa, Denise Phipps (Daniel) of Red Hook, NY, Lisa Hoeschele (John) of Cortland, NY and Kimberly White (John Fernandez) of Freehold, NJ, Kathie Maiello of Spring Hill, Fl, Annette Remy (Don) of The Villages, Fl, Kirk White (Sheri) of Parkesburg, Pa, Ronald Gigler of Zelienople, Pa, Cindy Worrad (Mike) of Highland, NY, Joan Miller (Michael) of Mooresville, NC and Allen Gigler (Corin) of Reading, Ma.
Betty is also survived by 24 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and many nephews and nieces.
Betty is also survived by sisters Roberta Casteel of Elizabethton, Tn and Phyllis Davidson (Steven Gregg) of Bloomington, In, and was predeceased by her brothers Glenn and Charles Hampton.
Betty was also predeceased by ex-husbands James R Baskwill and Curt White.
A memorial service will be held in the spring in Johnson City, Tn.
Donations in her name can be mailed to Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1336, Johnson City, TN 37605-1336
To send a condolence or remembrance please visit https://www.mtnempirecbs.com
Posted online on December 10, 2021
Published in Poughkeepsie Journal