re she was active in drama and journalism. Following high school, Betty went to Baylor University in Waco. Her interests were in the theater and religious education. After her junior year, Betty met John Harvey Pulliam of Doniphan, MO. They were married in the Baylor Chapel on January 27, 1956. Betty and John had 2 children, Mark and Martha Elizabeth (Beth). Betty provided support from home while her husband was a navigator/bombardier for the Air Force Strategic Air Command, first in B-47's in KS and NM and later, when John transitioned to B-52 aircraft, to several duty stations in LA, CA and WA. John was killed in an Air Force B-52 plane crash on November 10, 1964, while the family was stationed in Moses Lake, WA. Betty married Howard Gaines Sparrow of Mercedes, Texas on August 30, 1968. She and her children moved to Mercedes, TX where they joined Howard's family, which included 6 children from his first marriage; Judy, Charles (Chip), Gregory (Scott), Marianne, Nancy, and Susan. All 6 Sparrow children and most of their children and grandchildren still reside in the Rio Grande Valley. Howard and Betty were married for over 39 years. Howard died after a lengthy illness in November 2007. Betty was an avid Bible student and a member of the Rio Grande Valley Healing Rooms Church in Weslaco and was formerly active in the First United Methodist Church in Mercedes. Betty was also active in the Orchid Society and community affairs. Betty spent her life taking care of her family, and in later years developed a love of orchids and spent many happy hours in her backyard greenhouse nursing the finicky flowers. Betty is survived by son Mark and daughter in law Melissa, of Plano, TX and two grandchildren, Matthew and Meaghan, both of Dallas, TX. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Martha Elizabeth (Beth) Pulliam who was killed in a car accident in 1999. Betty is also survived by her sister, Linda Ries of Othello WA, along with Linda's three daughters and their families. A memorial service will be held to celebrate Betty's life on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at 2 pm, at McCaleb's Funeral Home, 900 W 4th Street, Weslaco TX. A graveside service will be held at a date to be determined at Ft. Sam Houston National Military Cemetery in San Antonio, TX.