Beatrice "Betty" Cox

Beatrice “Betty” Cox (93) Of Arlington, VA passed away Tuesday, July 23, 2024. Loving mother to Valerie Cox and Bettina Wesloh (John); beloved sister to Frank Botello and Irene Botello Reyes; cherished grandmother to Daniel, Matthew, Rachael, Rebecca, Joshua, and Grace. A true friend and wise adviser, she will be missed by many. Bio Beatrice Botello Cox always went by the name Betty. Born in San Antonio, Texas, to Frances Perez and Santiago Botello, she had one sister, Irene, and six brothers: Roy, Ray, Raymond, Rudy, Roger, and Frank. Betty lived in several states, including Oklahoma, Ohio, Illinois, and Virginia. She moved to Fairfax, VA in 1979 and resided in the same home for more than 30 years, before moving to Stafford and finally Arlington. In high school, Betty completed a vocational training program to become a secretary, where she perfected skills in typing, stenography, and penmanship. She had exceptionally beautiful handwriting, and whenever friends or family needed something written to look impressive, they asked her. Her training led her to secure a job at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, where she worked with a team of psychologists and made many friends, including her future husband, Jack Cox. Once the pair married, their Air-Force-based travels around the country began. They started a family. Betty became a homemaker, participated in volunteer activities and excelled at golf, even winning a 9-hole tournament. In the early 1980s, Betty returned to work full-time, restarting her service to the US Government. She worked for the FAA and then moved on to the Defense Mapping Agency, which would eventually be renamed to the National Geospatial Agency. In her work roles, she coordinated a bewildering number of schedules, calendars, and details. She learned about the technology keeping our country safe. She wrote, edited and approved communications. She won many awards and became an essential trove of institutional knowledge. She eventually retired at the age of 80, with more than 30 years of government service. Betty always loved children, and in addition to her two daughters, she was a beloved Aunt to her many nieces and nephews. She was also a favored host to the friends of her kids. She never knew a stranger and was quick to extend her warm hospitality to newcomers, easily adding new friends to her family. Betty’s house was always a place people felt welcomed and encouraged to be themselves. Eventually, Betty had six grandchildren, who often gathered at her home to enjoy cookouts and family celebrations. Betty loved animals. She had several pets over the years, but her favorite was Geraldine, who was exceptionally smart and well-trained. This dog was able to retrieve slippers and newspapers and could ring a bell when she needed to go outside. In her later years, Betty lived in a home that backed up to a nature preserve, and she enjoyed seeing animals roam through her yard, including families of deer, the occasional horse, and an excellent community of birds that provided daily entertainment to her and her visitors at the well-stocked bird feeder. Over the course of her life, Betty not only provided emotional support, friendship and good counsel to many people in her life, she was an excellent role model. She showed her family and her friends what kindness and generosity looked like, how to overcome adversity, and how to keep moving forward, time after time. Betty will be truly missed by her family, friends, and her care team. She was one of a kind, and although there will never be another like her, we can all aspire to carry a small part of her forward in our hearts. Visitation will take place Monday, July 29, 2024, 4:30pm - 5:30pm, at Jefferson Funeral Chapel, 5755 Castlewellan Drive, Alexandria, VA 22315. Graveside service will be held July 30, 2024, 11:30AM, at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, 9501 Catoctin Mountain Highway, Frederick, MD 2170. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to GirlsWhoCode or a charity of your choice.

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Beatrice "Betty" Cox

February 2, 1931 - July 23, 2024