Betty Jeanne Cobb

Betty Jeanne Cobb September 27, 1924 – November 26, 2011 Betty Jeanne Cobb, 87, beloved mother, wife, grandmother, and great-grandmother, mercifully entered her eternal home Saturday, November 26, 2011, after a two-week stay in Providence Hospital due to pulmonary difficulties. Graveside services celebrating her life and homecoming will be 3:00 p.m., Monday, November 28, at Waco Memorial Mausoleum Chapel, with Dr. Ralph Rummage officiating. Betty was born September 27, 1924, to Frank and Cecilia Foudray in Chicago, IL. She grew up loving ballet and tap and performed for many years as part of a dance group called the "Blondadears" which traveled and performed throughout multiple states prior to WWII. She met and married Conrad Harold Starr, a young marine from Elkhart, Texas, in 1943, had two children, and taught ballet for many years in Chicago. The family moved from Illinois to east Texas in 1949, where Betty worked as a medical librarian in Palestine and eventually returned to teaching ballet. In 1958, the Starr family moved to Waco where Betty worked as executive secretary for J. M. Woods Co. and A. C. Upleger Accounting Firm. She also worked at Rocketdyne as well as for Dr. William Roddy's medical office. In 1971 she became a widow and four years later married Clarence A. Cobb (known at the end of his life as the "Singing Bailiff" at the McLennan County Courthouse). The couple, who were married for 35 years, enjoyed their church, Columbus Avenue Baptist, family, friends, and many years of travel together even spending several years as winter "snowbirds" in the valley of south Texas. Betty will be remembered by her family as a woman of great faith and much prayer, an encourager, and one who delighted in the success of others. A friend acknowledged, "Betty has been such a trooper and an inspiration to us all in her illness." Family members who preceded Betty in death were her parents; both husbands; a brother, Charles (Chuck) Foudray; and a granddaughter, Allison Starr Pendergras. She is survived by her daughter, Joy Endsley, and her husband, Lindy, of Waco; their sons, Sean Endsley of Waco, and Micah Endsley of Pittsburgh, PA; her son, Kent Starr and his wife, Suzanne, of Waco; their children, Katie O'Connor, of Calgary, Canada, Taylor Starr, Martin Starr, both of Waco; step-daughter, Ann McDaris of Las Vegas, NV, and step-grandchildren, Dee Mangino of Las Vegas, NV, and Lee Mangino of Albuquerque, NM; 18 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A very special appreciation to Ralph Rummage, her SS teacher, who has stayed in constant contact with Betty as her health declined and she could not attend church. Also a huge thanks to wonderful neighbors who have gone the extra mile to take care of their widow neighbor: Greg Cockrell, who put Betty's paper in her door every morning and set her trash can at the curb weekly, and Dianne and Nick Barrera, who cared for her yard needs. Memorials may be made to Columbus Avenue Baptist Church or the charity of your choice. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." Betty is in that prepared place. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY