Obituary for Beatrice "Betty" Becker (Lapayowker)
Beatrice "Betty" Becker died on January 24, 2021 at Brookdale West Eisenhower Parkway at the age of 97. She was born on April 7, 1923 in Philadelphia, PA, daughter of Dr. Manfred and Rose (Miller) Lapayowker.
Betty attended Temple University. On January 16, 1944, Betty married Marvin Becker, her high school sweetheart, who had a long career as a professor and scholar of Italian medieval history, teaching for over thirty years at the University of Michigan. The couple and their two daughters traveled widely in the United States and lived in Florence, Italy for several years.
Early in her marriage, when her husband was a professor at the University of Arkansas, Betty continued her studies in English and performed in local theater productions. Betty's interest in language, literature, and history was of great use over the years in assisting Marvin with many of the practical aspects of his research. He appreciated the contributions that she made not only to his work but the enormous part she played in organizing all aspects of their family and social lives.
During the family's year-long stays in Italy, Betty home-schooled her daughters at a time when this practice was almost unheard of. She was known as a consummately inventive cook, and those who were lucky enough to receive the Becker hospitality have not forgotten the wonderful meals she made for them.
After sixty years of what she termed a storybook marriage, she was preceded in death by her husband Marvin on January 11, 2004. Although it would have been hard for anyone who knew them to think about their being apart from each other, Betty's congenital resilience and optimism, as well as her youthful vitality enabled her to add new friends to old in her later years. She added the Unitarian Fellowship and International Neighbors to a list of memberships that included Ann Arbor Hadassah.
Betty is survived by her daughters, Wendy (Robert) Cranfield of London, England and Prof. Dana Becker of Ann Arbor; her three grandsons, Oliver Miller of Reno, Nevada; Ben Cranfield and Adam Cranfield, both of London, England; and two great-grandchildren, Anna Cranfield and Ellis Cranfield.
Given current conditions, no memorial service is planned at this time.
Betty attended Temple University. On January 16, 1944, Betty married Marvin Becker, her high school sweetheart, who had a long career as a professor and scholar of Italian medieval history, teaching for over thirty years at the University of Michigan. The couple and their two daughters traveled widely in the United States and lived in Florence, Italy for several years.
Early in her marriage, when her husband was a professor at the University of Arkansas, Betty continued her studies in English and performed in local theater productions. Betty's interest in language, literature, and history was of great use over the years in assisting Marvin with many of the practical aspects of his research. He appreciated the contributions that she made not only to his work but the enormous part she played in organizing all aspects of their family and social lives.
During the family's year-long stays in Italy, Betty home-schooled her daughters at a time when this practice was almost unheard of. She was known as a consummately inventive cook, and those who were lucky enough to receive the Becker hospitality have not forgotten the wonderful meals she made for them.
After sixty years of what she termed a storybook marriage, she was preceded in death by her husband Marvin on January 11, 2004. Although it would have been hard for anyone who knew them to think about their being apart from each other, Betty's congenital resilience and optimism, as well as her youthful vitality enabled her to add new friends to old in her later years. She added the Unitarian Fellowship and International Neighbors to a list of memberships that included Ann Arbor Hadassah.
Betty is survived by her daughters, Wendy (Robert) Cranfield of London, England and Prof. Dana Becker of Ann Arbor; her three grandsons, Oliver Miller of Reno, Nevada; Ben Cranfield and Adam Cranfield, both of London, England; and two great-grandchildren, Anna Cranfield and Ellis Cranfield.
Given current conditions, no memorial service is planned at this time.