Irene Betty Dean, 83, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, died on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, after an extended illness.
She was born on July 17, 1928 in New Britain, Ct., to Joseph E. and Mary Tail Lovejoy. She moved to Sanford, Me., when she was three years old and resided in that area for 28 years. After graduating from Sanford High School, she attended Portland Business College. She went to work for the U.S. Army at Fort Williams as a secretary.
Betty married Richard E. Dean on May 12, 1956 and they moved to Rockford, Il., in 1958. She lived a life full of family and service in Illinois for 49 years before moving to Chattanooga for the last five years of her life. Before having two boys Betty worked for Sundstrand Corporation and later reentered the workforce as an administrative assistant in the Harlem School District where she retired in 1988.
She was an active member of Heritage Baptist Church in Roscoe, Il., and was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Ella Trafton.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Richard Dean; two sons, Jeffrey (Vinn) Dean and Gregory (Maria) Dean; three grandchildren, Megan (Carter) Whittier, Jacylyn Dean and Daniel Dean; sister, Isabel Stitson, Falmouth, Me.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 22, in the funeral home chapel with the Reverend Chuck Tanner and the Reverend Vikki Waters officiating. Interment will be in the Chattanooga National Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Alvin Stephenson Sunday School Class.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Silverdale Baptist Church, 7236 Bonny Oaks Drive, Chattanooga, or to Growing in Grace Ministries, 1384 Gunbarrel Road, Suite D, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 21, at the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 7414 Old Lee Highway.
Please share your memories at ChattanoogaValleyViewChapel.com.