Obituary for Betty Reynolds
Betty Reynolds was born in a farmhouse near Fredonia, KS to Joe Riley and Martha Elizabeth Porter on
March 6, 1933. This was a connection to a simple life that she cherished and shared with her two brothers
Richard and Gene. She met her future husband George in a bookkeeping class in Eldorado High School
where they quickly became friends. Betty babysat for Homer Reynolds’ children, George’s brother, and
George would visit Betty there every chance he could. Their love blossomed and they were married on
June 8, 1951, in El Dorado, KS in a very simple ceremony. This was the beginning of a love story
spanning almost 72 years. Their early years were spent in El Dorado where they had a daughter Connie
and son Terry. When George went to work for Cessna, they moved to Wichita, KS where daughter Judy
was born. There Betty started working for the federal government. Her career spanned 29½ years during
which she worked for the Internal Revenue Service, the Veteran’s Administration and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Her only son, Terry, was lost due to a terrible accident in August 2009. Betty
loved her children dearly and her eyes would truly sparkle when grandchildren, and especially when great
grandchildren, visited She always enjoyed holding the babies and showing them how much they were
loved! Betty was a prolific reader and she loved sharing this gift. She always had children’s books on
hand and would read to the little ones in her life. Betty loved to travel and with George by her side, she
went on many vacations throughout the United States and cruises in the Caribbean. When she could no
longer travel in person, she continued her travels through the books she read.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents Joe Riley and Martha Elizabeth Porter, her brothers Gene and
Richard Porter and her beloved son Terry Reynolds.
Betty is remembered and terribly missed by her husband of almost 72 years, George Reynolds, her
daughters Connie Hawkinson (Randall) and Judy Stout (Steve), eight grandchildren; Maggie Butterfield
(Arlee), Katie Gleichman (Joe), Shelly Cain, Ronni Reynolds, Tabitha Stout, Nick Stout (Deanna), Aaron
Hawkinson (Ginger), and Jennifer Hensley (Joe) and fifteen great grandchildren; Madelynne, Maylee,
Abigail, Eleanor, Josie, Lily, Leaha, Piper, Atticus, Levi, Mackenzie, Wyatt, Isaac, Ethan and Ellison.
Betty was always such a gentle, kind and generous person always putting others before herself. She has
requested a simple graveside service that is being planned for family and close friends. In lieu of flowers
the family requests that donations be made in her name to the United Methodist Open Door, P.O. Box
2756, Wichita, KS 67201-2756.
March 6, 1933. This was a connection to a simple life that she cherished and shared with her two brothers
Richard and Gene. She met her future husband George in a bookkeeping class in Eldorado High School
where they quickly became friends. Betty babysat for Homer Reynolds’ children, George’s brother, and
George would visit Betty there every chance he could. Their love blossomed and they were married on
June 8, 1951, in El Dorado, KS in a very simple ceremony. This was the beginning of a love story
spanning almost 72 years. Their early years were spent in El Dorado where they had a daughter Connie
and son Terry. When George went to work for Cessna, they moved to Wichita, KS where daughter Judy
was born. There Betty started working for the federal government. Her career spanned 29½ years during
which she worked for the Internal Revenue Service, the Veteran’s Administration and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Her only son, Terry, was lost due to a terrible accident in August 2009. Betty
loved her children dearly and her eyes would truly sparkle when grandchildren, and especially when great
grandchildren, visited She always enjoyed holding the babies and showing them how much they were
loved! Betty was a prolific reader and she loved sharing this gift. She always had children’s books on
hand and would read to the little ones in her life. Betty loved to travel and with George by her side, she
went on many vacations throughout the United States and cruises in the Caribbean. When she could no
longer travel in person, she continued her travels through the books she read.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents Joe Riley and Martha Elizabeth Porter, her brothers Gene and
Richard Porter and her beloved son Terry Reynolds.
Betty is remembered and terribly missed by her husband of almost 72 years, George Reynolds, her
daughters Connie Hawkinson (Randall) and Judy Stout (Steve), eight grandchildren; Maggie Butterfield
(Arlee), Katie Gleichman (Joe), Shelly Cain, Ronni Reynolds, Tabitha Stout, Nick Stout (Deanna), Aaron
Hawkinson (Ginger), and Jennifer Hensley (Joe) and fifteen great grandchildren; Madelynne, Maylee,
Abigail, Eleanor, Josie, Lily, Leaha, Piper, Atticus, Levi, Mackenzie, Wyatt, Isaac, Ethan and Ellison.
Betty was always such a gentle, kind and generous person always putting others before herself. She has
requested a simple graveside service that is being planned for family and close friends. In lieu of flowers
the family requests that donations be made in her name to the United Methodist Open Door, P.O. Box
2756, Wichita, KS 67201-2756.