FARRIOR, Betty Bodkin of Tampa, passed away suddenly Wednesday, March 24, 2010, when attending a Chislers meeting at the University of Tampa. She was born Oct. 21, 1927, in Glenville, WV, to Raymond C. Bodkin and Eula Gerwig Bodkin. She attended a one-room school house taught by her father, and spent her childhood on a farm on Steer Creek, WV. The West Virginia mountains were always in her heart. She attended Glenville High School, taking advanced courses and gaining college credits at Glenville State Teachers College, where she was an honor student and played basketball before this was fashionable for women. From there, she attended Duke University School, of Nursing and the Cadet Nurses Corps. She met her husband, Dr. Richard Farrior, when he was a medical student, and later they were married in the Duke Chapel in 1950. She worked as a registered nurse at Duke University Hospital, Bronksville Hospital, New York, and as an operating room nurse in neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery at the University of Iowa Hospital while Richard was in residency training. After living in Germany, when Dr. Farrior was in the Medical Corps and in Detroit, MI, while he was in a plastic surgery fellowship, they returned to Tampa, in 1956. Here, she was a public health nurse for the Hillsborough County Health Department for sixteen years. She was the charge nurse in the maternity clinic and the child health clinic. She was active in the Planned Parenthood Association. Betty was involved in many civic activities. At Hyde Park Presbyterian Church, she was an elder, president of the Women of the Church, Stephen's Minister and instructor, Circle leader, teacher and leader in community bible study. She received the highest honor as a life member of the women of the church. Betty was devoted to The Chislers for the University of Tampa restoration, and served as chair of the annual Chislers Market and as president of The Chislers. She was on many committees and was president of the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary, the Hillsborough County Medical Association Auxiliary, and the Women's Golf Association at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club. She loved the family home at Boca Grande, where she was a master angler, shell collector and beachcomber. Flowers, shells and sunsets were part of her loves. She loved traveling and went with her husband to many places in this country and abroad. Betty lived her life in such a way that it inspired us all. She was a compassionate, light-hearted, loving mother, a gourmet cook and a tolerant wife. She is survived by her husband of 60 years; her four children, Patricia Ross Van Bueren (Andy), James Thomas Farrior (Anne), Edward Harris Farrior, M.D. (Amy), and Dr. Elizabeth "Bettina" Bodkin Farrior. There are seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, Geoffrey Van Bueren (Sarah), Stephen Van Bueren (Kristin), James Evan Farrior, Emily Farrior, Bess Farrior, Madison Farrior, Searcy Farrior, and great-granddaughter, Ella Maria Van Bueren. She is also survived by her sister, Patricia Bodkin Beale. There are many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends, all of whom she loved dearly. She was predeceased by her parents and brother, Raymond Gerwig Bodkin. Donations may be made in her name to the Hyde Park Presbyterian Church Foundation, phone 813-253-0069, 1309 West Swann Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33606, or the Hillsborough County Command of the Salvation Army, 813-226-0055, 1603 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602. Flowers will be accepted. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, 605 South MacDill Avenue, Tampa, from 5:30 to 7:30pm. The celebration of her life will be at 4pm, Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at Hyde Park Presbyterian Church. Please sign the online guest book at www.blountcurrymacdill.com

Published in the Tampa Bay Times on March 28, 2010