Obituary
In the company of her loving family, Betty passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at Palermo Village retirement home in Oakville. A woman whose joy of socializing was only exceeded by her love of family, Betty was preceeded by husband of 75 years Kenneth Needham (July 19, 2019) and son Paul (March 23, 2013). She is survived by children Douglas and Patricia (Kearse); grandchildren Marni, Sarah, Jennifer, Victoria and Melissa; and great grandchildren Dylan, Jesse, Jay, Dominic, Henry, Quinn, Gabriella, Rosanna, Jackson, Cameron, Oliver and Ellis.
Betty was born May 9, 1924 in Sarnia, Ontario to Raymond and Stella Scarrow where she was raised and schooled in “The Imperial City” with siblings Jack, Dorothy, Audrey and Ralph. It was there in 1939 that she met the love of her life, Kenneth Charles Needham who she married in 1944 and with whom she celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on February 5, 2019.
During the 1939 – 1945 war, Ken was an instructor in the Royal Canadian Air Force and Betty accompanied him to postings in Hagersville, Deseronto and Trenton. Following demobilization, Betty and Ken returned to Sarnia where they built their own home and assembled a family of Paul, Douglas and Patricia. In 1956 they moved to Oakville where Ken was hired as Town Manager and they immersed themselves in the town social scene as Oakville grew to become Canada’s richest and most desirable community.
Betty and Ken were members of the Oakville Curling Club (20 years) and the Oakville Golf Club (32 years) as well as St. John’s United Church (66 years). Betty was an active member of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE), a women’s charitable organization which participated in war relief drives in WWII and community service thereafter. She was also a volunteer at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital for more than 35 years. These activities together with travel and her weekly bridge club provided the social interactions that she enjoyed.
Betty had many hobbies during her long life including baking, canning fruits and vegetables, marmalading, knitting, sewing and weaving. In 1970, she and Ken built a family cottage near Kincardine where they hosted countless visits from family and friends while admiring the unrivalled sunsets over Lake Huron. That beloved cottage remains in family hands.
While saddened by the loss of this fine woman, the family is comforted by the long, healthy and happy life that Betty enjoyed and the love that she disbursed so generously. A celebration of her life is planned for friends and family this spring.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Betty Irene Needham May 9 1924 February 10 2022..
Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home
Death notice for the town of: Oakville, Province: Ontario