Donna B. Betts, 84; Traveler, Volunteer

Donna Breckenridge Betts, a 54-year resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away at her daughter’s home in Manhattan, Kansas, on April 18.   Donna was born near Plattsburg, Missouri, in 1924, and graduated from Plattsburg High School. During World War II she attended Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri, and later became a flight hostess for TWA, flying on the DC-3. She met and married Ed Betts, who was her pilot on a flight to San Francisco. Living in Concord, California, in the early 1950s, Donna was a qualified civil-defense ‘Gray Lady’ volunteer.    In 1955, Ed and Donna moved to Pacific Palisades, where they raised their two sons and one daughter. For 18 years, Donna was a volunteer at the Veterans Hospital in West L.A., serving over 3,000 hours. She also volunteered with Meals on Wheels and was active with the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and numerous events at Marquez Elementary, Paul Revere and Palisades High School.   As the wife of an airline captain, Donna was a world traveler. Her map of the world had a pin for each of her thousands of exotic destinations, and her passport had additional pages for all of the ‘stamps’ she collected.   Donna never knew an enemy; she leaves friends around the world. Her passions were her family, international travel, birds, dogs, cats, her pet monkey, and volunteering to help others.   ’Growing up with the Betts family was a wonderful experience,’ says Palisadian-Post publisher Roberta Donohue, whose family were neighbors of the Betts. ‘Donna was warm and friendly and I loved being around her.’   Preceded in death by her husband Ed, Donna is survived by her brother, George Breckenridge; sons Tom Betts (wife Janis) and Breck Betts (wife Lois); daughter Janet Dean (husband Karl); granddaughters Lori Mattix, Tara Dean, Tiffany Dean, Brianna Dean, and Jessalyn Dean; grandsons Kevin Dean and Ron Betts; and great-grandson Sebastian Mattix. Donna asked that no services be held. Her ashes will be spread over the Pacific.