Betty Ruth Meidinger

Betty Meidinger passed peacefully on Sunday, February 4, at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center in Bradenton, Florida. She was 88 years old.

She lived her life with a love for her family, and she went to be with our Lord and savior surrounded by loving members of her immediate family. Betty was born in a rural area of Americus, Georgia, and spent most of her youth in nearby Columbus, Georgia. She graduated from Bakersfield High School, married and had her son at a very young age of 16 and her daughter at the age of 18. Early in her life at the age of 20, Betty had to deal with the accidental death of her husband, Hugh S. Bray. She had been a stay-at-home mom and had never worked and was immediately thrust into being a single parent working any job to support her young family. This early tragedy in her life gave her a lifelong strength that was a trademark that helped her through her entire life.

After several years, Betty met and married Robert Meidinger who was a career soldier in the US Army. Robert was the love of her life and they remained happily married until his death in 1982. Betty will be buried with Robert at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Being a military wife required Betty to relocate every several years. During their marriage the family lived in Columbus, GA, Frankfurt and Wiesbaden Germany, Fayetteville, NC, Savannah, GA, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, Chicago IL, and Virginia. During Robert’s military career he was stationed in Greenland, which did not allow dependents to relocate, and thus Betty and her children moved back to Columbus, GA to be with her parents, Annie and James Calvin Bridges. At that time she was also able to spend valuable quality time with her Grandma Smith.

Betty had a strong work ethic and was able to have a very successful career in federal civil service, and she continued her career as the family relocated to numerous Army bases. Robert retired after 26 years in the Army in Chicago, and Betty received a significant promotion to work with the Federal Reserve in Washington, DC. As a result of this promotion, Betty and Robert relocated to Burke, VA where Betty finished her career. After Robert's death, Betty relocated to Joppa, MD to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law, Mindy and Chuck Kretschmer and her brother and his wife, George and Jo Ann Bridges. Betty came from a large family, yet due to the age differences between the siblings, George and Betty were very close as they were the only children still at home. This bond and love between Betty and her younger brother George continued throughout their lives. Her sister-in-law, Jo Ann Bridges was a life-long loving friend (sister) and they were inseparable.

After retirement, Betty became very active and supportive to her local church, Trinity Lutheran. Betty had a life -long strong faith and belief in Jesus Christ as our savior which she freely and continuously shared to her children, family, and friends not only in words, but with her actions. She was a dedicated member of the Joppa Women's Club for many years and served in a number of positions of responsibility both locally and at the state level. Betty loved to dedicate her time and resources, and the Joppa Women's Club greatly helped meet that need to serve her community.

Betty loved her family and in turn her happiest times were at family dinners and on family vacations. Proceeding Betty to the Lord are her husband (Robert), her parents (Annie and James Bridges), her brothers (James and Bill), her sisters (Blanch and Helen), and her special sister-in-law (Jo Ann). She is survived by two children (Hugh Bray and wife Bonnie, and Mindy Kretschmer and husband Chuck), her brother (George Bridges), four grandchildren (Holley Francis, Dawn Campbell, Shannon Prentice & Darla Albaugh) and their spouses (David Francis, Andy Campbell and Robert Albaugh), twelve great grandchildren (Jacob, Nick, Cole, Andrew, Preston, Grace, Graham, Olivia, Caroline, Makayla, Kaylee, and Robbie), and a large number of nieces/nephews.