Elizabeth (Bette) R. Tinsley's Obituary
Elizabeth (Bette) R. Tinsley, 95, of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday October 21, 2017.She was born in Fort Myers, Florida on October 8, 1922. She was the daughter of Dan Hart Ruhl and Natalie (McSpadden) Ruhl and sister to Dan Hart Ruhl Jr, all deceased. She grew up and lived in Tice the majority of her life. She had been a resident of Cypress Cove Living Retirement Community for the last ten years. She graduated from Fort Myers High School, Florida Teachers College (now FSU) and Florida Southern College with Degrees in Teaching. She began her teaching career at Tice Elementary School and continued as a substitute teacher throughout Lee County for the next 20 years.She was married to William (Bill) Wood Tinsley Jr who sadly preceded her in death in 2006. During her life, she was active in swimming, playing bridge and being involved with her children and grandchildren. She was an avid world traveler. She was a member of Sweet Adeline’s, PEO and was a former board member of the Lee County Children’s Home.Bette is survived by her son William Wood Tinsley III, grandchildren Chris Bembry and his fiancée Ashlyne Shearn, Kyle W Tinsley, Rena (Tinsley) Talbott, grandson in-law Frank Talbott and great grandson Finn W Talbott.Those who preceded her in death were husband William Wood Tinsley Jr, daughter Patty (Tinsley) Bembry and son in-law Ronald C Bembry.Betty was a native of Fort Myers with roots leading back to early Fort Myers. Her grandfather, Isaac P McSpadden, moved to Fort Myers from Kansas in the early 1900s. He started one of the first General Stores in East Fort Myers. He also was the East Fort Myers Post Master from 1930 to 1938. Bette came from a family of educators. Her mother, Natalie (McSpadden) Ruhl, graduated from the newly built Fort Myers high school, Gwynne High School, in 1914. Upon graduation, Natalie shortly obtained her teaching certificate and started teaching at the ripe old age of 16. She was one of the earliest teachers at the “little Red School House” in Iona. Bette’s love for teaching and learning continued her whole life. While in her late 50s she took up studying French and Spanish. This served her well as she and Bill traveled extensively during their retirement both domestically and internationally. Bette had a love for experiences and a genuine appreciation for language, food and culture. A private funeral service for Bette will be celebrated on Friday October 27, 2017 at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, (239) 936-0555. Burial will be at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
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