Betty Lou Crandall Knobel

Betty Lou Crandall Knobel, 85, of Homer, New York, passed away on Sunday, November 20, 2022, at Guthrie Cedar Run Nursing facility.  Betty is predeceased by her husband of 49 years, James Henry Knobel.

Betty was born December 10, 1936, in Cortland, daughter of the late Doris (Biel) and Francis Crandall.

She is survived by her brother Gerry Crandall (Joyce) and her stepchildren, Thomas Knobel (Catherine Bertini), Rona Knobel, Stephen Knobel (Dina), and Kimberly Welch (Thomas), and step-grandchildren, James Welch, Erin Albro (Shawn), Patty Welch, Olivia Knobel, Vivienne Knobel, and four step-great grandchildren. Betty is also survived by nieces, Cheryl Burgett, Bonnie Bosch (Jeff), Debbie Crandall, and nephews, David Crandall (Karen), Albert Crandall, Steven Crandall (Kelly) and several grand nieces and nephews.

Betty was a kind, generous, gracious, and funny person, who, after retirement, loved to travel with her husband in their RV, covering the entire country twice over several summers, making and visiting friends wherever they went.

As a young woman, Betty was an award-winning swimmer and platform diver. As an accomplished artist, Betty specialized in oils and mixed media creating her own unique works. For several years she operated her own gallery in Seabrook, Texas.

Married in Orlando, Florida, where her husband worked on missile technology for General Electric. In 1964, Jim and Betty, transferred to Houston, Texas, where Betty worked in computer services for the Lockheed Corporation, supporting NASA at the Johnson Space Center in the early decade of the space program. Her last job supporting JSC was with a photo imaging company.  Continuing her active and varied career, Betty used her artistic talents and perspectives as the Display Manager for Montgomery Wards in Houston, winning awards for her creative holiday displays.

Outside of work, Betty enjoyed sailing with Jim on their boats in Galveston Bay and the camaraderie of the sailing community, many of whom became life-long friends.  She became a certified water safety instructor and loved entertaining in their Nassau Bay townhome.

With their first retirement home at ‘The Villages’ in Lady Lake, Florida, they became active members of that vibrant community. But in 2002, they decided to return full-time to Homer to reconnect with their Homer families.  Betty went back to her own art and to her hobby collecting native American art.

Betty was predeceased by her mother and father, Doris and Frank, and her sister Iva Crandall, brother Donald Crandall, sister-in-law Pat Crandall and her niece, Marlea Crandall Roberts (Bill).

The families would like to express their gratitude to the staffs at Walden Place and the Guthrie Nursing and Rehab Center for their support.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions her Betty’s name be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central New York, Gift Processing Center, PO Box 97104, Washington, DC 2009-7104.

A Celebration of Betty’s Life will be scheduled soon.  Please contact Tom Knobel at tknobel@hotmail.com or at (607) 261-0355 for more information.

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