Betty Ruth "Rose" McCoy

Betty Ruth (Rose) McCoy passed away at her home in Gig Harbor Washington, at approx 0500 on 8 Sep2016. She was 92 years old. Betty was born on November 21, 1923 in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Her family then moved to Los Angeles, where she grew up going to movies and roller skating with friends and having picnics at the beach with her parents. After graduation from High School, she worked for the California Shipbuilding in Wilmington, California. In November of 1943 Betty enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After attending finance school in Indiana she was stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Station, Ford Island, Hawaii, where she met her future husband, U.S. Marine Billie McCoy of Dallas, Iowa. Billie is fond of saying the she out ranked him then, and continued to do so throughout 70 years of married life. They were married in Pleasantville, Iowa on August 25, 1946, then returned to the Los Angeles area. After Korea, Billie enlisted in the U.S. Army Guided Missile Program, and Betty began nineteen years as a military wife, which included tours in Okinawa and Italy as well as many Stateside assignments. When Billie retired in August 1974, they built a home on their property at Lake Minterwood, Gig Harbor, where they lived ever since.

Betty was predeceased by a grandson. She is survived by her husband, her four children, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. All will remember her as a loving mother and grandmother who was always doing little things to make her family feel special.

Betty loved animals (“critters”, so she called them). In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the animal charity of your choice.

 Service Information