Elizabeth Whyte, a 55-year- Long Beach resident beloved by all who knew her, died July 24 at age 94. Betty, as she was known, was active in Lakewood Village Community Church, the Crippled Children's Society and the PTA. She was interred at Riverside National Cemetery alongside her husband of 66 years, Norman Whyte, who died in 2008. She is survived by daughters Betty Jo of Rancho Santa Margarita and Susan of Rockville, Md.; grandchildren Cathy Ortiz, Daniel Nead, Claire and Andrew Simon; and great grandchildren Jeffrey, Lindsey and Jenna Ortiz and Sara and Matthew Nead. Born Sept. 7, 1920 in Colorado Springs, Elizabeth Clarissa Schwaebe met her future husband at a high school dance, beginning a lifelong love for dancing and each other. In 1958 the Whytes moved to Long Beach where Norm worked for the Long Beach and Naval Station shipyards and Betty became active in PTA. The couple volunteered as election workers for a decade and at the Crippled Children's Society for 30 years. They square danced into their 80s. They joined Lakewood Village Community Church in 1967. So beloved was Betty that church members at a retreat two years ago asked her to write her name on a piece of paper. The church members then tore the paper into strips so each could take home a bit of Betty Whyte. Contributions in her memory can be made to Lakewood Village Community Church in Long Beach.
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