Betty Rose Robidart

March 17, 1934 - October 12, 2021

Betty Rose Lovelady Robidart( March 17,1934 – October 12, 2021 Youngest child of Rosa Maria Hahn & William Claude Lovelady, first Oregonian in the Lovelady family of five siblings that included Carl, William (Bill), Richard, and Ruth Vlarie. Betty's first child, son Gabriel Bernard Robidart the Third, (the honeymoon gift!) Best friend to second child, daughter Patricia Camille Robidart, and many others-"A light to the world", a quote from her grandson Alex Wayne Robidart Russsell. Grandmother to Bethany Rose, Madison, and Gabe. Betty attended a one room school, Judd Smith, near Grandparent's Christian & Carl Hahn's home 8 years . Betty graduated Corvallis High-1953. Around 1949, Betty met Carol Mayor (their mother's were also friends) This friendship lasted. until Betty's last breath. Married Gabriel Bernard Robidart Jr. in May 1953 "Arrested" that evening in the '32 Chop-top Ford hot rod for "noise" Allowed to proceed to honeymoon at Multnomah Falls, Oregon. Betty was part of the pit crew for her husband Gabe, at the salt flats in Utah in the '32 Ford. Gabe and Betty while pregnant with Patty, and young son Bernie, tore down the Finance building at Camp Adair. (they bid for the building) Betty & Gabe were perhaps among the first re-purposers using all the lumber, doors, brick, to build her house. While Gabe was at work Betty drilled holes for the electrical wire, & taped the sheet rock, then mudded it under her husband's direction. Betty's favorite quote from Gabe "Honey you can't drill around corners". Her husband Gabe was a Chemical Engineer at Albany Bureau of Mines, and amateur enthusiast astronomer, geologist, & adventuring traveler. This took her entire family to Alaska to photograph the eclipse in 1952. The family forgot the tent poles and cut new ones at every stop. They traveled in a Lincoln with their dog, Tipper. Betty was a bowler extraordinaire: featured in the G.T as best score of 302. She also taught bowling to Corvallis kids. Gabe and Betty bowled in league Sunday nights at Beaver Bowl. Betty was an assistant Campfire Girls leader for Ruby Frakes. The astronomy enthusiasm took the family to Cap Chat, Quebec to photograph the total eclipse of the sun and moon, this travel to Quebec was done in a "motor home-a converted school bus" The bus conversion like the house building, was worked by the family, Betty full time while Gabe worked. The school bus camper was used for a family trip for most of the summer. Husband Gabe said "we must first explore our great United States with its many bounties and beauty before we see Europe. " Europe was promised as a trip to the family in 1976. Almost all of the states were visited. On this trip, an Ariel camera was purchased in the very unique city of Peabody, Massachusetts. Gabe introduced the family to all varieties of ethnic food and our countries greatest landmarks & food like lobster, and Americana at Dungeons Park, Chicago. Fish and Chips in Canada, Meat Pies along the roadside in Nova Scotia. The family visited many observatories in the U.S., along with many small airstrips where Gabe could see homemade airplanes. All visitors to Betty's home saw the progression of his airplane throughout the house. The bath tub was only ever used for soaking the wood for the airplane, and in later years, Rogue's cat box. "Why take a bath and soak in your own dirt." When daughter Patty asked how her Mom put up with-all the clutter, (the house was clean, but cluttered with many projects: lens grinding, stamp & coin collections, Scientific American, National Geographic, card playing, dark room photo lab, Scout Troop 213 back pack building) Betty said "a house is to live in. not to be used for show." While the children were small, she was FIRST a loving, wonderful mother, gardener, baker, and seamstress. Latter working part-time at Benton Printer's for her life-time friend Bob Urban. Next she was a Tax Preparer for Tax Reducers. She called her work "mad money"...using it for fun extras at her home like trips and furniture, as Betty said they needed nothing beyond Gabe's salary at the Albany Bureau of Mines. A quote from Gabe: "I love my job and can't believe I get paid for it. Choose work that feels this way" ' Betty hated playing card games & board games but took part in a couples rotating Pinochle group, because Gabe loved the game. At age 42 Betty suddenly found herself a widow, Gabe died at age 50. Betty became a full time worker book-keeping at Bi-Mart, a cashier at Fred Myers in the Candy department and a part-time student at LBCC. Her hours were very long and sleepless. At LBCC she ran 3 miles with her fellow student & daughter Patty. Betty found Dorsey Bus Company, where she retired from work after f 23 years. She began a regular route, was offered a full-time route driving special needs by her boss Paul Goebel. Betty was featured in the Corvallis Gazette times as a Special Need's Driver. She also went on many bus delivery adventures to bring new buses from the east coast home to Corvallis, by herself, or in tandem with friend Sybil Malone and others. Many close friend's were forged during this time, including the parents of her students. Noticing Betty's social skills & work ethics, her boss Paul Goebel, offered her a management position for his rental properties. Betty managed the rentals until age 82;-in this job she met many young renters whom she thoroughly enjoyed. Betty had an art spirit and encouraged her daughter; however Patty thought of her mom as an artist as illustrated in the many stained glass projects given to family & friends. She was also commissioned for a large piece featuring hummingbirds for Pat McKann. Betty played on soft-ball & volley ball teams. Betty would have been a vigorous athlete if sports were encouraged in her youth. Carol and Betty became great supporters of O.S.U. women's softball and basketball. Betty & Carol climbed the auditorium steps with her oxygen to claim their seats with fellow friends & fans to see EVERY local O.S.U. Women's Basketball games until 2017. Betty found fishing & sailing friends, and spent great times on the water. Betty sailed the Puget Sound. Carol bought a motor home and she and Betty traveled. Betty was the co-pilot giving directions for all their sojourns. Not just because her mom Rosa Maria Hahn Lovelady was a floral judge of State Fairs, and gardener exquisite (owned and managed a truck farm in the depression and seamstress at night) Betty grew vegetable gardens and floral borders on the family lo acre on N.W 23'd st. in Corvallis with total flourish and beauty. Betty had a green thumb! She called it her "farm; but was glad it was in town. After retirement Betty became involved with her Political Party, Benton County Republican Women. Betty remembered many political conversations at card games & gatherings at the Lovelady farm. This was before people got mad at different beliefs. She enjoyed the fun of hearing opposing thoughts. After all, her mother was a Christian (German Austrian) Scientist and her dad a Baptist (Irish Indian, born in Alabama), and she attended a different church with her grandparents and a different church with her Aunt Augusta. Her Mother Rosa Maria held coffee clutches with many languages, loving different last names and learning about others. Betty taught her children how to swim with swimming lessons at the old C.H.S. pool so they could fish. Fishing was a big deal for the family summer camping trips, Gabe rowed the boat and ate the fish, while she and the kids fished. Every time daughter Patty swims laps, she is grateful for her mom & everything else. Son Bernie takes his fly pole out to the river every chance he gets, and ties many of his own flies. Being able to communicate with each of us in a unpretentious, loving way is why we call Betty Rose Lovelady "light of the world". Our world will not be as bright without her, but we will let that light continue to burn in hearts as we see the beauty of nature, sky, water, and family in our world that we experienced with Betty. Lastly, remember this Betty quote, “Don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal!” A public viewing is planned on Friday, October 15, 2021 from 2:00-4:00 PM at McHenry Funeral Home in Corvallis. A graveside service will take place at 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 16, 2021 at Oak Lawn Memorial Park in Corvallis. Memorials may be made in Betty’s name as a scholarship for her Grandson, Alex Russell in the form of notes, to thrive in his pottery studio in her memory as the “Betty Rose” studio. The family would like to thank Dr. Cho, Rice’s Pharmacy, Vic Russell and many others for the help, love and support. 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