Submitted by
Karen Stewart

Elizabeth Palmer Hinshaw

With her loving husband by her side, Elizabeth "Betty" Hinshaw went to be with her Heavenly Father after fighting a courageous battle with cancer on Wednesday March 8, 2006. She was 63.

A service will be held Friday, March 10, at 2 p.m. at the Northeast Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Larry Nigh, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. The family will greet friends in the chapel of Trout Funeral Home on Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m.

Elizabeth Palmer, the daughter of Benn G. and Sarrah Elizabeth Greathouse Palmer was born in Bartlesville on Jan. 29, 1943. She graduated from College High School in 1961. Betty then attended Northeastern State University for two years. Betty roomed with her mother in the men's dormitory for the first year while her mother was the head resident.

Betty attended Northern Oklahoma College in 1981 and received her associate of arts diploma. She transferred to Oklahoma State University and graduated in 1987 with a degree in education, along with her oldest daughter, Wendy.

On July 19, 1963, God brought Betty and Stanley Hinshaw together in marriage, which occurred at First Christian Church in Bartlesville. They lived in Aurora, Ind., for two years while Stan was on active military duty. Their daughter Wendy was born during this time and was an infant when they moved to Ponca City in June 1965. They have made their home in Ponca City since that time. God also gave them three additional children.

Betty was proud to be a teacher and taught short periods at several schools in Ponca City before teaching third and fourth grades at Union Elementary School until her retirement in May of 1999.

Betty loved to travel. She had visited 49 states and, during her illness, had placed a deposit for an upcoming Hawaii trip that would have taken her to all 50. She had also visited some of Canada and had served on a missionary trip to Mexico City.

During her retirement, Betty began working for Trout Funeral Home until her health failed. She was always eager to give a word of encouragement to others and was a pillar of faith to her friends, co-workers and family.

Betty loved life and it showed in so many ways. She was a charter member of Northeast Baptist Church and had been a pitcher for church women's softball league for many years. Betty served as president-elect for the Kay County Retired Educators and was also on the board of directors for Helpline. She was a lifetime member of the OSU alumni and the Oklahoma Education Association. She enjoyed being a docent (tour guide) at the Marland Mansion.

Betty was a loving wife, mother, sister and grandmother. She will be greatly missed here on earth, but is now pain-free and enjoying her home in heaven.

She is survived by her husband, Stan of the home; daughters, Wendy Wilson and her husband Steve of Frisco, Texas, Tammy Staiger and her husband Dustin of Broken Arrow and Deanna Romine and her husband Aaron of Fort Hood, Texas; one son, Donald Hinshaw and his wife Paula of Tulsa; brothers, Glenn Palmer and his wife Linda of Dewey and Gene Palmer and his wife Pat of Tulsa; one sister, Loretta Applegate and her husband Leo of Broken Arrow; and five grandchildren, Ryan Wilson, Curtis Wilson, Tyler Wilson, Abbigayle Staiger and Grant Staiger.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Bennretta Miller.

Memorial contributions may be made to Northeast Baptist Church, 2200 N. Pecan Road, Ponca City, Okla. 74604 or to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 N. Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, Okla. 74601.

Casket bearers will be Ryan Wilson, Darrell James, David Vance, Bill Carmichael, Calvin Golliver and Kenny Bryer.

Honorary casket bearers will be Grant Staiger, Tyler Wilson, Curtis Wilson, Dennis Dye and Randy Ratliff.