Elizabeth 'Betty' Truman Wright, 94

REHOBOTH BEACH - Elizabeth "Betty" Truman Wright died on Thursday, May 15, 2008. She was 94.

She moved to Rehoboth Beach in 1975 from Falls Church, Va., after her retirement as an associate professor of English at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Betty was born in Chardon, Ohio, on Feb. 3, 1914.

She was a child of the Depression and worked from the time she was in high school.

Betty worked her way through Allegheny College and graduated in 1939.

She married Robert Wright in 1940. The couple celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary on April 20, 2008.

After moving to the Washington area in 1942, she resumed her education and her working career as soon as her two young sons were old enough to permit it.

Betty earned a master's degree in foreign affairs from George Washington University, and subsequently a second master's degree in linguistics from the University of Michigan.

Her master's thesis at George Washington was a study of the original handwritten letters and despatches of Nicholas Trist, the American diplomat who negotiated the peace treaty after the Mexican War in 1848.

Betty also wrote a study of the London Economic Conference of 1933 with documentation and testimony from Professor Edward "Ted" Acheson, a participant at the conference and the brother of Secretary of State Dean Acheson.

Her graduate work in linguistics at Michigan was related to her specialty of teaching English composition to foreign students.

In addition to her teaching, Betty was the first woman appointed an academic dean at George Washington: dean of the University Division (Non-Degree Students).

After moving to Rehoboth Beach, she enjoyed organizing frequent trips to the British Isles, the coast of Norway, Australia and New Zealand, and across the United States and Canada.

During this time Betty cooperated with the English actor, Donald Sinden, in writing the history of her mother's family, the Sindens, in Sussex County, England, the United States and Canada.

She overcame congenital back problems and repeated bouts with cancer.

Her guiding motto to herself and others was always, "Just rise above it."

Betty is survived by her husband, Robert; her sons, Michael and Anthony; her sister, Mary Daugherty (98); six grandchildren, Ellen Mcguyer, Matthew, Christopher, James, Caitlin and Terence; and her devoted cat, Luna. Betty was the heart of the family.

An informal gathering of family and friends will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday in Cloud 9 restaurant, 234 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Rehoboth Art League, 12 Dodds Lane, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.

Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Enterprises, Lewes.