Elizabeth Ostrander

Middleburgh: Elizabeth "Betty" Ostrander, 83, formerly of Middleburgh, passed away peacefully, at Baptist Nursing Home on November 23, 2014.

Betty was born in Albany, on May 26, 1931 to Mary (Lumley) and Alfred L. Platt.

She was raised in Cobleskill and graduated from Cobleskill High School in June of 1949 with many honors, including Salutatorian of her class. Betty had many friends in school and enjoyed cheerleading and intramural sports. Through the years, Betty remained close to several of her high school classmates.

Betty attended Albany State Teacher's College and graduated with a teaching degree in business administration. She was a member of her teaching sorority at Albany and graduated with high honors. She also served as Public Relations Editor for the State College News.

Betty was married to Richard Ostrander in 1953 and began her first career as a mother and a homemaker. They settled in Middleburgh and raised four sons. She actively followed her children's school activities and sporting events.

Betty's second career started in 1969 when she became a second grade teacher at Middleburgh Central School. She loved her students and enjoyed working with her fellow educators immensely until retiring in 1989.

Following her retirement, Betty and Richard moved to Beaufort, South Carolina. She worked part time in a physician's office and was very active in her church group there. Betty enjoyed returning to the Middleburgh and Cobleskill area every summer to visit family and friends.

Betty had a lifelong love of animals, especially dogs. She enjoyed knitting, outdoor activities, especially camping and she was a member of the Century Club in Middleburgh and the Middleburgh Reformed Church.

Betty was predeceased by her husband, Richard.

She is survived by her sons: John (Kim McCarthy) Ostrander of Cobleskill, Todd (Susan) Ostrander of Queensbury, Wes (Alexis) Ostrander of Delanson, Ned (Stacey) Ostrander of Middleburgh; grandchildren: Lance Ostrander, Grant Ostrander, Leigh Ostrander, Derek Ostrander, Robert Ostrander, Lindsay Ostrander, Adam Ostrander, Dane Houshower, Cole Houshower, Kate Houshower, Andrea Kingsley and Brian Ostrander and her great-grandson: Emlen.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the Middleburgh Reformed Church with Rev. Jeffrey Kelley officiating. Inurnment will follow in Zion Rural Cemetery, Seward. Cremation took place at Vale crematory in Schenectady.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Middleburgh Reformed Church, 178 River St., Middleburgh, NY 12122

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Palmer & Shaylor Funeral Home, Middleburgh and the Mereneness-Putnam Funeral Home, Cobleskill.

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