Martha Elizabeth “Betsy” Bender Salling Groh, 83, died peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia.
A native of Chattanooga, she graduated from Chattanooga High School and Pulaski Technical School. Betsy began her career as a plumbing, fire protection, and medical gas engineer at a time when few women entered the field. She designed systems for hospitals, newspaper production plants, radio and television studios, level one research labs, and industrial facilities across the United States. Her most notable projects included the Delta III rocket facility in Decatur, Al., Washington Hospital in Washington, DC, and a CDC research lab in Atlanta, Ga. She was a member of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers, National Fire Protection Association, American Water Works Association, United States Field Artillery Association, and Daughters of the American Revolution-Cherokee Chapter.
Betsy’s talents were many, as she was an accomplished artist, cook, gardener, seamstress, and markswoman. She also loved camping, entertaining, genealogy, and participating in living history events.
Betsy is survived by a son, Jack Ronald Salling, Jr. (Lisa); a daughter, Margaret Salling McCue (Matt); three granddaughters, Claire Salling Clemens (Will), Meara McCue, and Avery McCue; and a great-grandson, Jack Clemens. Additionally, she is survived by a sister, Barbara Howard (Ed); a sister-in-law, Karen Bender Kirby (Paul); a longtime companion, Donald Butler; and cherished cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Betsy was preceded in death by her father, Robert Lee Bender, Sr.; her mother, Margaret Burnette Bender; a brother, Robert Lee Bender, Jr; and ex-husband, Jack Ronald Salling, Sr.
The family will receive friends from 12-1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, at Lane Funeral Home-Coulter Chapel, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tn. 37415.
A 2 p.m. graveside service will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery Pavilion, 1954 Greenwood Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37406.
Donations in Betsy’s memory may be directed to an organization dear to her heart, Friends of Kennesaw Mountain at https://friendsofkmnbp.org/giving-membership.
Condolences may be sent to https://www.lanefh.com.