Betty Joe Billotti Binz, known for her lively spirit and love and support of her family, friends and community, peacefully passed away Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at the age of 96. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great- grandmother and friend.
The love of her life, Walter E. Binz, preceded her in death August 7, 2017 at the age of 91. Walter and Betty danced their way through 70 beautiful years together, renewing their vows three times to celebrate their love and commitment to one another. At Betty’s death, they are reunited, dancing together on streets of gold.
Betty was born September 9, 1928, in Morgantown, to Joe and Minnie Billotti. The Billotti family were longtime residents of Morgantown. Her father, Joe, owned several Clover Farm groceries in the area, and her mother, Minnie, grew up in Dellslow with her eight sisters. Joe and Minnie married and first gave birth to Betty’s sister, Gloria Billotti Seybold. Betty was born a few years later. Betty was raised in Morgantown and graduated from Morgantown High School.
Betty first met Walter in 1943, while Betty was working at Walam’s Drugstore and fountain shop in Morgantown, and Walter was in Army boot camp attending West Virginia University. All the soldiers visited Walam’s for free sodas during the second World War. Three years after Betty served Walter his first free grape cooler, the two were married November 29, 1946. A few years after their wedding, they moved to Seattle, Wash. and had four children.
While in Seattle, at the age of 48, Betty decided to go back to school and become a beautician. She proudly graduated from beauty school and worked as a stylist at the airport Hilton and at her home salon cutting and styling hair for her family and friends.
In her free time, Betty enjoyed hosting parties, arranging flowers, and creating centerpieces. She specialized in creating silk flower arrangements, which she either gave away or sold at the Normandy Park Community Club’s annual Christmas Bizarre. She loved playing Bridge with her friends, shopping, and working in her garden. She was a very active member of her community, attending church for many years at Prince of Peace Lutheran, volunteering for various causes and organizations, including the Illa Clark Garden Club #7, and the Parkside Garden Club. Betty was a founding member of the Normandy Park Cove Community Center and Swim Club. One community member said, “Betty was instrumental in getting Normandy Park to what it is today. She had vision and spunk.”
Walter and Betty are survived by their four children, Walter (Eunice) Binz, Karen (Paul) Richter, David (Chris) Binz, Matthew (Lee) Binz; and their eight grandchildren, Nathan (Becky) Binz, Katie (Andre) Sims, Paul (Bethany) Richter, Libby (Afif) Khuri, Jessica Richter, Casey Binz, Kevin (Liz) Binz, and Alex Binz. They also are survived by 14 great- grandchildren, Zachary, Isaac, Breanna, Isaiah, Sydney, Noah, Abraham, Caleb, Moriyah, David, Waleed, Aya, Aidan, and (her namesake) Betty; as well as two nieces, Gloria Nicholson and Darla Goodwin.
They were preceded in death by Minnie Billotti, Joe Billotti, Gloria Billotti Seybold, Albert “Buddy” Seybold, Walter Binz, and Louise Binz.
