E. Betty McWilliams

E. Betty W. McWilliams - Clemson

Born in Boston, Massachusetts to Edith Shattuck Wiggin and Henry Dwight Wiggin, Jr. Betty's mother died in childbirth and for the first five years of her life she was raised by her father and Grandmother Wiggin. Her father married Elizabeth Heath and her stepmother then oversaw Betty's upbringing. After her father's marriage, they moved to West Newton, Massachusetts. Betty attended Tenacre and Dana Hall in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

During World War II she worked for the military efforts as a draftsperson in Boston. While attending a USO sponsored dance in Boston, Betty met her future husband, Robert L. McWilliams, who was attending Meteorology School at MIT in Cambridge, he was being trained to become a military meteorologist in the Northern European Theater. Robert spent three years in Europe during the war working for the most part in Sweden as a part of the meteorological service of the US Air Force. Upon his return from World War II he married Betty and they settled in Needham, Massachusetts, later moving to Waban, Massachusetts. They maintained a summer home in Harwichport, Massachusetts. Upon their retirement they took up residence in Harwichport and Sarasota, Florida. Betty was active in numerous philanthropic and social organizations, including Daughters of the American Revolution, The Florence Crittenton League, Waban Women's Club, The Windsor Club, Brea Burn, Tau Beta Beta, Boston Morning Musical, Massachusetts Federation of Women's Clubs, Harwich Women's Club, The Harwich Garden Club and the Allen Harbor and Stone Horse Yacht Clubs. Betty enjoyed painting and creating artwork, throughout her life.

Four Children survive her, Dwight (Nancy) of Quincy, Massachusetts, David H. (Elizabeth) of Seneca, S.C., Donald W.(Patty) of Holliston, Massachusetts, and Elizabeth Whitton (Richard) of Sarasota, Florida. In addition she is survived by nine grandchildren: Kirby McWilliams of Quincy, MA, Jessica McWilliams Staton (Eric) of Athens, GA, Graham McWilliams of Seneca, SC, PFC Justin McWilliams of Ft. Riley, Kansas, Corporal Kyle McWilliams of Camp LeJune, NC, Ashley McWilliams of Holliston, MA., Rick (Hilary) Whitton of Bradenton, FL, Terrence Whitton of Sarasota, FL, and Victoria Whitton of Sarasota, FL.

For the last four years Betty lived at Clemson Downs, Clemson, SC to be near her son David and his family.

The family would like to express our sincerest appreciation to the staff at the Clemson Downs Nursing Facility for the love and care they have provided Betty for the last two years. We would also like to thank OMH Hospice of the Foothills.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to a charity of one's choice or OMH Hospice of the Foothills, 390 Keowee School Road, Seneca, SC 29672.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com for Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central-Clemson Commons, or at Coutinho-Boisse Funeral Home www.cbfuneralhome.com, Harwich, MA.