Betty Hosford

Betty (Myrtle E.) Hosford was born June 8th, 1925 in Roselle, N.J. to Alva and Ethel Dunbaden. She was predeceased by her younger sister Jean Tice and her younger brother Richard (Mickey) Dunbaden. She is survived by her eldest daughter, Jean Marie Harris, her middle child, Ruth Ann Hosford, and her youngest, William Jonathan Hosford. She is also survived by five grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her loving husband, William George Hosford.
Betty grew up in Cranford, and graduated from Cranford High School in 1943. She then went on to Keuka College in the Finger Lakes region of New York State where she studied nursing. She graduated Suma Cum Laude, and went on to receive her Master's degree from Columbia University, N.Y.C. From there she completed her education at John Hopkins, where she pioneered programs in the field of nurse-midwifery. She was instrumental in starting Birthing Centers, bringing midwife assisted births to hospitals, as well as nutrition counseling to the field of modern midwifery. Maternity Center Association was one result of Betty's determination to bring dignity, education, and wellness back to pregnant women.
At the age of 5 years old Betty started spending her summers on Indian Lake at 'Camp Wild Wood', the house on the lake that her parents bought in 1929. She grew up loving her summers there. She called it 'God's country'. She met her husband in the small town of Mountain View, at Marion's- the local dance hall. They later married in a small church in Mountain View.
Betty shared her love of Mountain View, Indian lake with her children, grandchildren, and now her great-grandchildren.
Betty had a very generous heart. Throughout her lifetime she gave her time and expertise to so many people. She gave birthing lectures at Cranford High School, nutrition classes to homeless pregnant women in Elizabeth, and was even our beloved Girl Scout leader where she was infamous for the many camping trips to Lou Henry Hoover, hot chocolate and s'mores!
Throughout her lifetime she had the honor or receiving many honors and awards. One was the prestigious Hattie Hemschemeyer Award. Betty was in a Channel 13 movie on the circle of life. Of course she was in the birth portion of the movie. She was on the Merv Griffin Show, and was once interviewed by Geraldo Rivera. In her own way she was famous- at least to us…