1920
Betty
2009
Betty Hallmark
August 6, 1920 — May 9, 2009
Betty Hallmark Mueller, 88, was born August 6, 1920 in Whitsett (Live Oak County) Texas. She died in the early morning hours on May 9, 2009 in La Grange, Texas where she lived for the previous five months. Betty was a long time resident of Flatonia, TX.
Betty's parents, Wame Jacob Hallmark and Nell Pullin Hallmark, named her Olive Elizabeth after Nell's older sister. However, her granddad Pullin said, "That's too big a name for such a little girl. We'll call her Betty" and so they did.
Betty attended public schools in Poteet, Karnes City, Rockport and Blessing as the family relocated for her father's career as a math teacher, coach, principal and superintendent. She graduated as valedictorian of Blessing High School in 1937 and from Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now Texas State University-San Marcos) in 1941 with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She played snare drum and saxophone in the Bobcat Band.
Betty began her teaching career in Flatonia in 1941 and taught 5th grade. In Flatonia she met W. W. "Sweet" Mueller and they were married in San Antonio January 9, 1943. When Sweet died in 2006, they had been married for 63 years, a long partnership of devotion and teamwork.
After Betty and Sweet's return to Flatonia from Sweet's service in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, Betty assisted Sweet in his dry cleaning business. After their daughters were in high school, Betty resumed teaching in Flatonia and taught language arts and Texas history in grades 6-8 and was the elementary and junior high librarian, a 24-year career with the Flatonia Independent School District. Betty worked with students to prepare them for competition in UIL events, coached girls' sports, was a sponsor for school clubs and organizations and was a positive mentor and influence in the lives of Flatonia's children.
Betty and Sweet were instrumental in the formation of the Flatonia Bulldog Band in the 1950's and in the establishment of the Booster Band Club. Betty was recognized with honorary life membership in the Flatonia Parent Teachers Association for outstanding service as a parent and a teacher. Betty was a Girl Scout leader during the 1940's and 1950's. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Fayette County Retired Teachers Association, Flatonia Chamber of Commerce, the E.A. Arnim Museum and Archives, the National League of Postmasters Auxiliary and Eastern Star. Betty was a long standing and devoted member of the Flatonia Baptist Church, often serving in teaching and leadership rolls. She served as chairwoman of the Fayette County Republican Party and as a volunteer in the Oak Manor Community Volunteer Council. In 1999 Betty was named Flatonia's Citizen of the Year.
In her "retirement career" Betty served as librarian, director and president of the Flatonia Public Library for twenty years, 1988-2008. She organized the Summer Reading Program, coordinated activities with the Texas State Library and Archives and worked diligently to ensure the success of the library for the community and its citizens.
Betty's husband, her parents, her sister, Marinell, and her two brothers, Jimmie and Phil, preceded her in death. Betty is survived by her daughter, Peggy Mueller, of Austin; her daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Zefrin Pospisil, of Willis; two granddaughters, Gale Cook and husband, Matt, of Spring; Jill Smith and husband, David, of San Antonio; and five great-grandchildren, Adam and Sara Cook, and Kyle, Rachel and Kevin Smith; and many other relatives and friends.
Services will be held Saturday, May 16, 2009, at 11am at the Flatonia Baptist Church with the Rev. Tim Rowell officiating and burial at Oak Hill Cemetery in Flatonia. Visitation will be Friday, May 15, from 5-7pm, Smith Funeral Home, Flatonia. Pallbearers: David Fike, Sam Migl, George Pospisil, Billy Sellers, Jeff Steinhauser and Ira Syler, Jr. Honorary pallbearers: all the children Betty Mueller taught.
Memorials: Flatonia Baptist Church Building Fund, Box 305, Flatonia TX 78941; Flatonia Public Library, Box 656, Flatonia, TX 78941; Hospice Brazos Valley, 1048 N. Jefferson, La Grange, TX 78945
Betty's parents, Wame Jacob Hallmark and Nell Pullin Hallmark, named her Olive Elizabeth after Nell's older sister. However, her granddad Pullin said, "That's too big a name for such a little girl. We'll call her Betty" and so they did.
Betty attended public schools in Poteet, Karnes City, Rockport and Blessing as the family relocated for her father's career as a math teacher, coach, principal and superintendent. She graduated as valedictorian of Blessing High School in 1937 and from Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now Texas State University-San Marcos) in 1941 with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She played snare drum and saxophone in the Bobcat Band.
Betty began her teaching career in Flatonia in 1941 and taught 5th grade. In Flatonia she met W. W. "Sweet" Mueller and they were married in San Antonio January 9, 1943. When Sweet died in 2006, they had been married for 63 years, a long partnership of devotion and teamwork.
After Betty and Sweet's return to Flatonia from Sweet's service in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, Betty assisted Sweet in his dry cleaning business. After their daughters were in high school, Betty resumed teaching in Flatonia and taught language arts and Texas history in grades 6-8 and was the elementary and junior high librarian, a 24-year career with the Flatonia Independent School District. Betty worked with students to prepare them for competition in UIL events, coached girls' sports, was a sponsor for school clubs and organizations and was a positive mentor and influence in the lives of Flatonia's children.
Betty and Sweet were instrumental in the formation of the Flatonia Bulldog Band in the 1950's and in the establishment of the Booster Band Club. Betty was recognized with honorary life membership in the Flatonia Parent Teachers Association for outstanding service as a parent and a teacher. Betty was a Girl Scout leader during the 1940's and 1950's. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Fayette County Retired Teachers Association, Flatonia Chamber of Commerce, the E.A. Arnim Museum and Archives, the National League of Postmasters Auxiliary and Eastern Star. Betty was a long standing and devoted member of the Flatonia Baptist Church, often serving in teaching and leadership rolls. She served as chairwoman of the Fayette County Republican Party and as a volunteer in the Oak Manor Community Volunteer Council. In 1999 Betty was named Flatonia's Citizen of the Year.
In her "retirement career" Betty served as librarian, director and president of the Flatonia Public Library for twenty years, 1988-2008. She organized the Summer Reading Program, coordinated activities with the Texas State Library and Archives and worked diligently to ensure the success of the library for the community and its citizens.
Betty's husband, her parents, her sister, Marinell, and her two brothers, Jimmie and Phil, preceded her in death. Betty is survived by her daughter, Peggy Mueller, of Austin; her daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Zefrin Pospisil, of Willis; two granddaughters, Gale Cook and husband, Matt, of Spring; Jill Smith and husband, David, of San Antonio; and five great-grandchildren, Adam and Sara Cook, and Kyle, Rachel and Kevin Smith; and many other relatives and friends.
Services will be held Saturday, May 16, 2009, at 11am at the Flatonia Baptist Church with the Rev. Tim Rowell officiating and burial at Oak Hill Cemetery in Flatonia. Visitation will be Friday, May 15, from 5-7pm, Smith Funeral Home, Flatonia. Pallbearers: David Fike, Sam Migl, George Pospisil, Billy Sellers, Jeff Steinhauser and Ira Syler, Jr. Honorary pallbearers: all the children Betty Mueller taught.
Memorials: Flatonia Baptist Church Building Fund, Box 305, Flatonia TX 78941; Flatonia Public Library, Box 656, Flatonia, TX 78941; Hospice Brazos Valley, 1048 N. Jefferson, La Grange, TX 78945
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Betty Hallmark, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 5
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors