Betty Lou (Sprague) Whittemore, 96, died June 8, 2020 at A.O. Fox Nursing Home where she has lived since February 2016.

She was born in Ilion, NY on March 8, 1924, the daughter of Clarence and Jennie (Wilcox) Sprague. She was the youngest of five children. She graduated from Ilion High School in 1941 and Utica School of Commerce in 1942.

Betty Lou married her high school sweetheart Robert Whittemore on July 24, 1943 in Savannah, GA where he served in the Army. They had four children.

Betty worked many years in the advertising department at the Oneonta Daily Star and also worked at the Palladium Times in Oswego, NY.   She retired in 1992 as secretary of the First United Methodist Church in Oneonta.

Betty Lou's family was the most important thing in her life and she loved each member dearly. She also enjoyed playing cards with her card club friends and her good friends at Nader Towers.  She enjoyed attending her grandchildren and great grandchildren's sporting events and other activities.  She was a member of the Otego United Methodist Church where she served on the Pastor Parish Relations committee.  Church was a big part of Betty's life no matter where she lived.

Betty Lou is survived by her son, Brian (Jan Best) Whittemore, Remer, MN; daughters, Barbara (Joe) Stanton, Otego and Bethany (Terry) Vargason, Meridian, ID; grandchildren, Erik (Amy) Whittemore, Marietta, GA, Ian (Amy) Whittemore, Bradenton, FL, Lori (Matt) Mannina, Otego, Kevin (Wende Ebberts) Stanton, Otego, Kyle (Caroline) Vargason, Boise, ID, Derrick (Chelsea) Vargason, Warren, OR; great-grandchildren, Ashley (Ryan Martini) Mannina, Otego, Sarah (Joe) Stento, West Oneonta, Kylee Stanton, NC, Alex and Emily Whittemore, GA, Nate and Abby Whittemore, FL, Austin Vargason, ID, Maeve and Mila Vargason, OR, and great-great-granddaughter, Adelyn Martini, Otego.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Betty Lou was predeceased by her husband, Bob; her son and daughter-in-law, Brad and Charlene Whittemore; two sisters, Joan (Ronald) Ward and Edith (George) Graves; two brothers, Chuck (Helen) Sprague and Dick (Marge) Sprague and her brother-in-law, Harold (Edna) Whittemore.

Mom was a loving, caring, and always supportive mother. She was very special to all of us and we will miss her more than words can say.

We wish to thank the many caring people at Fox Nursing Home for taking such great care of our mother. A very special thank you to Bob and Lucy Ingalls for the many rides to church and for the weekly visits to the nursing home. She always looked forward to seeing you. We so appreciate you.  Also a tremendous thank you to Mom's great niece, Heida Armao for the loving and special care you gave Mom in the nursing home.  There was never a dull moment with Heidi around and Mom enjoyed your visits so very much.  We also want to thank Carol Thayer for  her weekly visits to Mom.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. to the service at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2020 at the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.  Due to current restrictions please wear a face covering, maintain social distancing and be prepared to possibly wait to enter the funeral home.  The burial will follow at the Otego Evergreen Cemetery, Otego, NY.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent in Betty's name to the A.O. Fox Nursing Home Activities Fund, 1 Norton Ave., Oneonta, NY 13820 or the Otego United Methodist Church, PO Box 288, Otego, NY  13825.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta, NY.  For the online guest, visit, www.lhpfuneralhome.com