of Little Rock, AR
December 19, 1925 - December 10, 2013
Elizabeth Lovett ''Betty'' Valachovic, of Little Rock passed away Tuesday, December 10, 2013. She was born December 19, 1925, in Texarkana, Arkansas, the daughter of Paul Eugene and Lela Nelson Lovett. She was married to Ernest Valachovic, Sr., who was a political reporter for the Arkansas Gazette, on June 18, 1944. Ernest died on October 15, 1968, when Betty was only forty-two years old and she never remarried.
Betty has three children: Ernie Valachovic, Jr. and his wife Wanda, of Benton, AR, Pat Crocker and her husband Gary, of Coral Gables, FL, and Carol Bohannan and her husband Terry, of North Little Rock, AR.
Betty has four grandchildren, Kristen Adcock and her husband Nick; Bethany Waldo, Chance Bohannan and Nate Bohannan, and two great-grandchildren Will and Reagan Adcock. Special ''daughter'' Mary Boyd Finch Boudreau and her family.
She left the Arkansas Education Association (where she had worked for thirteen years) to serve as an administrative aide for then gubernatorial candidate Bill Clinton. After the successful election was over, Betty was offered the opportunity to work as the Executive Director of the Arkansas Optometric Association. She worked there for eighteen years until her retirement in August 2000.
She served as President of the International Association of Optometric Executives and the Arkansas Society of Association Executives. She received the First Virgil Deering Optometric Executive Director of the Year award given at the American Optometric Association Congress for outstanding services to the optometric profession by an executive director. She also was the first non-optometrist to be awarded the Distinguished Service Award given by the Arkansas Optometric Association. Betty has received numerous other professional service awards, but there are too many to list.
Betty was a member of the Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools during the Central High School crisis. She has served as President of the Pilot Club of Little Rock, been a Board member of the Ouachita Girl Scout Council and served in almost every capacity (including President) of the PTA organizations of her children's schools when they were growing up. She was very active in Life Quest and was in charge of the travel log classes.
She was a member of VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity) group and went to several third world nations on service trips.
She was a founding volunteer at the Clinton Library. She loved being a member of this very special volunteer family and playing an active part in supporting a wonderful facility that allows so many people from all across the world to see how proud we are of President Clinton's service to our country. She was to be honored this week by President Clinton with a special award for her volunteer work.
She had traveled extensively and loved to see new places. She was active up until the time of her death.
She was adored by everyone who knew her and ''Maw Maw'' will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2013, in the Chapel of Roller-Chenal Funeral Home 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, AR (501)224-8300. Visitation will be one hour prior to service.
Memorials may made in loving memory of Betty Valachovic to Project 222 (African Mission Trip) C/O Deep Well Campus Ministries, P.O Box 10614, Conway, AR 72034, the Arkansas Optometric Scholarship Fund, Southern College of Optometry 1245 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN 38104, or a favorite charity of your choice.
Ernie, Pat & Carol, I am so sorry for your loss. Love, thoughts & prayers to you all.
Carol,
I am sorry for your loss of your dear mother.
Betty was a caring person who will be missed by many of us, especially the underprivileged who she cared so much about.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Ms. Betty V. Thanks to the family for sharing Betty with the world. She will be missed.
I knew Betty for several years as we regularly attended monthly Bosom Buddie support meetings. She was an inspiriation to all of us as we celebrated our "survivorship". She will be missed.
Carol, I know that you and your family are going through a lot right now and you all are in my prayers. Please do not hesitate to call if you need anything at all. Im sorry that I could not attend the memorial service and show my sympathies in person.
Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.
-Author unknown
Mrs. Bohannan,
I was sorry to hear of the passing of your mother. I will continue to pray for you and your family during this difficult time.
Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Ms. Betty was my dear friend and neighbor. she welcomed me into the neighborhood and made me feel welcome and loved. Our last conversation was one of mutual appreciation and love. My life has been enriched by knowing her. She is greatly missed. You are all in my prayers.
I had the pleasure of being in the Pilot Club of LR with Betty for 10 years. She was such an inspiration and so much fun to be around. I will treasure that time.
She talked regularly about her family and the kids and lake etc. We enjoyed hearing all about it!
She had such a wonderfully full life and many will miss her.
I know your family will have a great void, but relish all the sweet memories God has given you from her!
I am very sorry for your loss.
Sincerly,
Greg
To the family of Betty Valachovic:
Words cannot adequately expess our sense of
loss when we heard of Betty's passing. I will never forget her support and words of encouragement as we went about the business of the Arkansas Optometric Association. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this most difficult time.
Sincerely,
Marc and Patti Parnell
El Dorado
Ms. Bohannon, I am sorry for your loss. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Please accept our deepest sympathy. Betty was a very dear friend and will be greatly missed. She loved her family and spoke of all of you often. We are so glad we had Betty in our lives for 30 years and will always hold our fond memories close to our hearts.
Sincerely,
Kenny and Lynne Wyatt
Im so very sorry for your loss. Your famiy will be in my prayers.
To Carol and Family. My heart goes out to you and your family. May god bless you.
We are saddened to hear of Carol & Terry's loss. I know she will be missed by family and all who came to know her. Gold Bless!
Hope to see you soon.
Mrs. Bohannan, I'm so very sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. May you be comforted with God's love and healing power.
My prayer are with you and your family if there
is anything Ican do to assist you or your family please ley me know.She may be gone but remember all the good times that each of
you shared.
Mrs. Carol,
You and your family are in my prayers during this time. I pray that God will comfort you and keep you strong.
Love,
Tena
Mrs. Carol Bohannan and Family,
We are so sorry for your loss, please accept our condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Prayers and Blessings to Carol and all the family
My prayers are with you in your time of grief .
Carol;
Sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in my prayers.
Darnell
I am honored to have met Ms. Betty and get acquainted with her. Because of her legacy, friendly nature and her love of life, she will be missed by many. To Carol (co-worker) and all the family and friends of Ms. Betty, please know that my wife and I will be praying for you during your time of grief.
John and Jean Belken
Carol, I am so sorry for your lost. I pray that God strengthens you and your family through this time. I will pray for your strength in the Lord.
I ask God to look down upon the Valachovic family and bless them in this time of bereavement. He promises that He will never leave or forsake us. He is with you and with Ms. Betty now and forever.
What an extraordinary life! I pray that her vivacious memory will comfort you in her absence until you meet again. My prayers are with you and your family.
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers at this sad and difficult time. You have my deepest sympathy for the loss of such a beautiful and wonderful woman.
I knew Betty during her years of work with the Arkansas Education Association. She was a delight with a big smile and a big heart. I ran into her recently and so enjoyed catching up. She will be remembered and missed.
Carol and family,
I am sorry to hear of your mother's passing.
She was so kind to me when we were doing the Fitness for the Cure training sessions a few years back. She was a real treat!
May God bless you and be with you all.
What a shining jewel she was and is from heaven. She helped me a ton after I graduated from SCO in 1994. She was such an asset to the profession of Optometry and such a dear person. I thought if her often after she retired. Your family will be in my prayers.
Such an amazing lady. So happy for the times we shared. RIP dear friend.
May God Richly Bless and Comfort this Family!
What a privilege to work and travel with Betty in Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity. She was very dedicated to helping those in third world countries. We still talk of the fun of traveling and working with Betty on our VOSH team travels. We love and miss her.
Wonderful, kind, & fun lady! It was a true pleasure knowing her. Sorry for your loss, but I know you have many special memories to hold close to your heart.
Larry & Cindy DeWitt
Your mother will be missed dearly, but remember you are all in our prayers.
Betty was my neighbor for several years. She was very sweet and thoughtful. Betty will be missed.