Betty J. Hardison passed away January 10 in Oakland, with her family by her side. Born in 1920 to Lillian and Harry Decker in Vallejo, Betty grew up in Calistoga graduating from Calistoga High School in 1938 and Armstrong College, Berkeley. In 1942, she met and married the love of her life, Donald Hardison, a young aspiring architect. Together they worked in Richmond’s Kaiser Shipyard No. 3 during WWII and raised their family in Richmond and then El Cerrito – her home for the last 60 years.
Betty was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley and a longtime member/volunteer of the Richmond Art Center. She was an extraordinary secretary and companion of her husband in his early architectural practice and his lifelong service to the profession, as well as a gifted community volunteer and leader dedicated to such charities as the Hospital Auxiliary (serving the former Richmond and Brookside Hospitals), the YMCA, and the Richmond Art Center where she served as Board President in 1980-82. She was also an early volunteer for the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park.
She is survived by son Steve Hardison and wife Lois, Calistoga, CA,; daughter Jan Brown and husband Byron, Richmond, CA; grandchildren Chaitra (Yanfeng Zhang) Hardison, Matthew (Susan) Brown, Jennifer (Aaron) Finigan; and great grandchildren Leland, Alden, and Calista. She is predeceased by her brother Harry ‘Bud’ Decker Jr., and by her husband of 70 years, Don Hardison.
A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on Feb. 3 at 2 PM at Sunset View Mortuary, Colusa and Fairmount Ave., El Cerrito. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Richmond Art Center (2540 MacDonald Ave., Richmond, CA 94804) or charity of choice.
Betty J. Hardison passed away January 10 in Oakland, with her family by her side. Born in 1920 to Lillian and Harry Decker in Vallejo, Betty grew up in Calistoga graduating from Calistoga High School in 1938 and Armstrong College, Berkeley. In 1942, she met and married the love of her life, Donald Hardison, aContinue Reading
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