Betsy Andrus Silver

Betsy Andrus Silver passed away peacefully on January 23, 2017, under Hospice care in her residence at Concordia at Sumner in Copley. Betsy was born in New York City, December 20, 1919, to Constance R. Andrus and Carl F. Andrus.

Mom grew up in Caldwell, New Jersey, and would regularly tell us about her adventures with her sister and brothers in the house on 93 Brookside Avenue. She spent many summers helping family friends who owned a farm in Maryland. The first vehicle she learned to drive was a tractor. She also told fun stories of the family vacations on Cape Cod and the Connecticut seashore. After high school graduation from the Buxton School, she chose to follow her artistic abilities, entering a fashion design program at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. After graduation, she began working in New York City. With the onset of World War II, after the death of her brother Walt in a 10th Mountain Infantry training accident, Mom went to work in Manhattan for the Army. Once she reached an acceptable age, she joined the Red Cross and went to England, stationed at the Burry Saint Edmond Air Base. This experience began a life-long love of England, the people and culture. Once again, she had wonderful and sometimes frightening stories to tell us, such as when she flew in a B-17 Bomber or when a German V-2 rocket exploded just a half mile from her barracks. After the war's end and her return home, she was persuaded by her parents to join them on the beach at Point-O-Woods on Fire Island, N.Y. There, she met the love of her life Dick Silver. They were married in May of 1947 and moved to Akron, Ohio.

Mom's time in Akron was filled pretty quickly with 5 children and all that goes with supervising that cast of characters. Dad was a business executive and salesman, who traveled frequently. She still found time to join the Junior League, the flower guild at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and Diggers & Weeders gardening club. As the children grew and left the nest, she was able to travel with Dad. Mom had developed many friends, which she enjoyed. After smoking for probably 40 years, Mom and her good friend Betsy Frank quit smoking cold turkey, never to smoke again. As her children married, Grandchildren appeared. She was so good with them, always trying to nurture them and be supportive. In October 1999, Dad was taken from her by prostate cancer. She lived for a couple of years in our big old house on Southwood Rd. and then decided to move into Sumner on Ridgewood (now Concordia at Sumner). As the grandchildren married, she welcomed being a great-grandmother too. She was a Founding Member at Sumner, where she rediscovered her love of painting. She began to paint a wide variety of watercolors. One of her paintings won a local contest and hung in the State House in Columbus for 3 months. Over the past few years, as her mobility and eyesight faltered, she remained pleased with life. She looked forward to every Wednesday ("Hair Day"), her Saturday dinners with "the girls" at Portage Country Club, and frequent outings with family. Just this past Christmas season, she was able to visit with many of her family members. She always looked forward to our family holiday parties. She helped all of us have a great Christmas, sharing more colorful stories. We all agree, Mom was fun.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 52 years, Dick, her sister Sally Tooker and brother Walt Andrus. She is survived by her brother Whit (Bobbie) Andrus, her children Walt (Pat) Silver, Elida Silver, Sally (Steve) Peterson, Bill (Karen) Silver, Rick (Cathy) Silver, Grandchildren Jason (Carrie) Silver, Bobby Silver, Kristen (Neil) Silver-Moore,
Megan Silver, Katie (Ryan) McDonald, Bryan Silver, Kevin Silver, Ashley Silver and her Great-Grandchildren Maddy Silver, Sarah Silver and Delilah Silver-Moore.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, January 30th at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1361 West Market St., Akron OH 44313. A reception will follow in the parish hall. Internment at Rose Hill Cemetery to follow.

The family would like to thank Dr. Melodie Phillips and Mom's wonderful caregivers Loretta Kendrick, Cindy Ford, Wendy Huntsman, Sandy Liston, Kim Blankenship, Wilma Sears and Ruth Lynch.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church at the above address or to the American Red Cross, 501 W. Market St., Akron, OH 44303.