Obituary
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Betty Lee Afflerbach, a retired reference librarian for the Texas Medical Association in Austin, died January. 10, 2013, in Fort Worth as a result of Alzheimer's disease. She was 85.
Betty was born in 1927 in Fabens, Texas, and spent her early childhood in nearby El Paso. She moved with her mother and stepfather, Elizabeth and Robert Witte, to Texas City in the early 1940s and graduated from Texas City High School. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1948 with a degree in English. A love of books and language was a lifelong passion.
She married Charles W. Afflerbach in 1949 and they lived for several years in Del Rio, where he worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. They relocated to Corpus Christi in 1954 and moved with their eight children to Austin in 1968.
In 1969, Betty earned a master's degree in library science from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. She joined the Texas Medical Association in Austin as a reference librarian in 1969 and eventually became director of the library, which researched medical topics for doctors across Texas in the era before the Internet. She retired from TMA in 1988.
In retirement, she continued her interest in books -- Southwest history, true crime, the Civil War and many other topics -- and in classic movies. In 1996, she and her husband, Charley, along with a handful of passengers, sailed on a cargo ship to Australia and New Zealand. They spent three months at sea, and the first thing Betty did aboard ship was organize its library. They also spent many weekends at their beloved rural getaway called "Twelve Mile" outside Smiley, Texas. Betty was widowed in 2005 and moved to the Fort Worth area in 2008.
Survivors: children Libby Afflerbach of Willow Park, Claire Poole (Leland) of South Bend, Indiana; Chuck Afflerbach (Carolina Juarez) of Oakland, California; Tom Afflerbach (Mary) of Austin; Fred Afflerbach (Diane) of Cedar Park; David Afflerbach (Susan) of Richland Hills; Jennifer Afflerbach (Lee Beckham) of Dallas, and Sister Maria of Divine Mercy, O.Carm. of Wahpeton, North Dakota; and brother, James Witte (Carol) of Carmine, Texas; 13 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A visitation and rosary will be at 6 p.m. Sunday at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home. Funeral mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 1101 W. New Hope Drive, Cedar Park.
Memorials may be made to the James L. West Alzheimer's Center in Fort Worth (www.jameslwest.org) or the Carmelite monastery at Carmel of Mary, 17765 78th S.E., Wahpeton, N.D., 58075.
To share memories of Betty with her family, please visit www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
February 6, 2013
Your mom brings back so many fond memories. We missed her when she retired.You are all in my thoughts and prayers
February 1, 2013
To all the family,
May God peace be with you all at this sad time. I will keep you all in my prayers.
Rosanne from Houston, Texas ( friend of Sister Maria of Divine Mercy)
January 14, 2013
Adrianne Juarez Wagers
Dear Chuff, So sorry to hear of your Mother's passing. I will be keeping you and your family in my prayers. She sounds like an amazing, accomplished woman, and strong in her faith. I hope you will all be comforted in the thought that she is now home in the arms of her Savior.
January 14, 2013
Becky Anderson and Jamie Cervetto
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Afflerbach family at this difficult time. We love Chuff and all the others we have had the pleasure of meeting and know that Betty must have been an amazing woman to have raised them.
Much love
January 14, 2013
Chuff, Chick and the whole Afflerbach family, Patt and I send our positive thoughts and prayers your way. We did not have the opportunity to meet your Mom, however judging by the the wonderful Afflerbach's we have met we are sure your Mom was a very positive influence on her family. Love, Art & Patt
January 14, 2013
Becky Mobley
Dear Chuff and family,
We are so sorry for the loss of your beloved Mother. She must have been an extraordinary woman, although I never had the pleasure of meeting her, knowing you and hearing some of your family's stories, you have indeed lost a treasure. We are all richer for your Mother's life. Much love, Becky and CJ
January 14, 2013
Andy Yemma
To my cousins Libby, Claire, Chuck, Tom, Fred, David, Jennifer and Sister Maria, Eileen and I send our love, thoughts and prayers. Betty was a wonderful person. I remember fondly the summer she spent with us in Austin while working on her masters degree. I miss the great times spent at your house in North Austin schmoozing with all of you. Andy Yemma
January 13, 2013
Pat and Byron Rathbun
We'll remember the chest of ice creams and the joy she had in sharing. She made us feel so welcome.
January 13, 2013
D'Ann Underwood-Santos
Jennifer, Joannie and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Celebrate your Mom's wonderful life and remember that she and your Dad are always with you.
January 13, 2013
Sandie Scarpa
Libby - Your mom was a dear person who always made me feel welcome. She was such a sport when we trekked all over Japan. I remember your parents being so kind to the Nakaseko's when they visited. We send our love to all. Sandie and John Scarpa, Lark and Jerry
January 13, 2013
Patricia Tuohy
More than any other people in Corpus Christi, I remember the Afflerbachs as the family closest to the Tuohys. I remember when both of our families lived on 12th street in that old neighborhood off Brownlee. How exciting it was to have a family as large as ours living right next door! Many summer nights were spent at the Afflerbach's where we children ran riot and the grownups played bridge. Your mother had the most gentle voice. I can hear her even now saying "now MaryLou what Patty did was not so awful". She was a wonderful gentle soul that will be missed. God love and keep all the Afflerbachs close to his heart.
January 13, 2013
Betty's grand daughter, Valerie Marin, wrote this.
This is my granny. This is my beautiful granny A, the kind that took long walks with you and listened to your problems, even when she was neck deep in her own. she loved bananas and would always make me eat one. we were really close when i was younger, i would wake up at 7 am at her house and we'd take long walks, talking about my 5th grade problems and the olden days. she had this bunny collection. no, not a couple stuffed bunnies. i'm talking 400 bunnies here. bunny ornaments, bunny pencils, bunny pillows. she had a whole room dedicated to it, it was amazing. she loved dr seuss and Legos. she was a librarian, and knew the precise difference between lie and lay, lain and laid, who and whom, and god help you if you didn't use them correctly. she was never harsh, never mean. she was a simple, honest mother of 8, grandmother of 13, and great-grandmother of 8. i wrote this in the past tense. my granny A was diagnosed with alzheimer's a few years back. she slowly, slowly, lost her way. she moved from her house to a senior living center, senior living center to a specialized home, the specialized home to hospice. slowly, her bunny collection meant nothing to her, dr seuss became a jumble of strange letters. she forgot people. she forgot words. she forgot lie and lay. it was the most horrifying experience of my 15 years. i loved her so much. my granny A, my granny who loved long walks and bunnies and ice cream and lie and lay, lost her life today. i don't care who does or doesn't see this, i just want someone to know how much this woman meant to me. I love you granny. i'm so happy you're free now. RIP.
Granny A, Betty A, Bess, Muggins, Aunt Betty, Betty Lee, Little Mother, Mom
January 10, 2013
January 12, 2013
Mary Kero
Fred and Diane...So sorry to hear about your mom. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your familiy. God Bless always.
Love
The Kero Family (Tom, Mary, Katie and Jess)
January 12, 2013
My sympathy to your family during this time of grief.
January 12, 2013
Fred and Family
Our condolences to all of you during this difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Marvin and Karen Ragsdale
January 12, 2013
David & Theresa Anderson
Our family sends its love and prayers to you all at this difficult time. She was a wonderful lady and will be missed. Praying that you find strength in the loving memories you share.
January 12, 2013
January 12, 2013
The Klepfer Family
Our thoughts & prayers are with you all! Betty will be missed and left behind a wonderful family & many memories. May all of you find peace in your hearts & minds.
Mike, Barbara, Wes, Melanie & Andrew Klepfer
January 12, 2013
Our thoughts & prayers are with you all! Betty will be missed and has left behind a wonderful family & many memories. Mike, Barbara, Wes, Melanie & Andrew Klepfer
January 12, 2013
Dear Jen,
What wonderful memories I have of your amazing mother! She was a good influence on so many of us. Take the time that you need to grieve, but may your heart remain full of her spirit. My best to you, Joannie, and all of your family.
Love and prayers,
M'Liss Forbes Scott
Seattle
January 12, 2013
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love, Sass
January 12, 2013
We will always have many special and wonderful memories of the good times and laughter at 12 Mile and Rocky Mound. There will be a campfire lit and a little Bailey's Cream sipped as a tribute to someone we will dearly miss.
Forrest and Gayle Robertson (San Antonio, TX and Rocky Mound)
January 12, 2013
Frieda Davidson
What a wonderful person to work with. We worked at TMA in the 1970's and shared a room at annual conferences. May the family find great comfort in memories of her.
January 12, 2013
she will be missed.here at the west center
January 11, 2013
Anita Klepfer
Fred, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. God Bless.
January 11, 2013
John, Mary, Nathan & Emily Walters
The Walters family send our love, thoughts, and prayers to the Afflerbach family. Wishing you all peace.
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Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home14501 North Ih-35, Pflugerville, TX 78660
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