Elizabeth L. ‘Betty’ Skinner, 90, of Vero Beach, passed away on Aug. 26, 2016, in Port Orange, Fla.
She is survived by her son Robert (Michele) Skinner and daughters Judy (Dennis) Brubeck, Kathleen Mergott, Janet Warner, Karen (Mike) Reid; grandchildren: Brian (Jennifer) Reiss, Jonathan (Jennifer) Skinner, Andrew (Ann) Skinner, Christopher (Liz) Scherf, Craig (Charlene) Scherf, Jason Albaugh, Daniel Mergott, Lauren (Mark) Selking, Samuel Zimmer, Kristina (Joseph) Cho, Robert Skinner, Patrick Rempe, Alison (Alex) Reid, Benjamin Reid; great-grandchildren Steven Reiss, Truman Skinner, Drew Skinner, Betty Ann Skinner, Gloryann Skinner, Abagail Stockton, Eric (Ashlynn) Appleget, Beth (William) Stamps, Emily Scherf, Jordyn Scherf, Bailee Mergott, Samantha Scherf, Andrew Selking lll, Jin Cho, Serenity Cho, Ella Cho; and great-great-granddaughters Irelia Stamps, Lilian Appleget.
She was preceded in death by her son Jerry Skinner, daughter Jeanne Zimmer, grandson Steven Jones and great-granddaughter Autumn Sunshine Skinner.
Skinner was born in Chicago, Ill., on Sept. 5, 1925, to Verena and Daniel O’Connor. She was raised in North Vernon, Ind., and graduated from Arsenal Tech High School in Indianapolis. She married Robert Skinner (deceased) May 5, 1945 and together they raised seven children. They moved to Tampa, Fla., in 1968, where they owned and operated the “Hoosier Hideaway Bar.”
She was an air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration. She began her career at Indianapolis Center in 1967, but resigned to move to Tampa. In 1974, she was rehired and assigned to Key West Flight Service Station. She transferred to Vero Beach FSS in 1980 and St. Petersburg FSS in 1988. She returned to Vero Beach upon her retirement in 1990. Skinner loved her job, which provided her the opportunity to travel and observe flight operations in the cockpit of commercial airliners.
Travel became her passion and she always had a trip planned. She traveled through Europe with her sister-in-law, Beve Redenbarger. She enjoyed numerous cruises and traveled across the U.S., Canada and South America with family and friends. In 2003, she treated her daughters to a tour of Ireland, her grandfather’s homeland.
Skinner was always busy working, volunteering or socializing. In addition to her FAA career, she was a Real Estate Broker. Her volunteer work included “baby cuddling” at Indian River Memorial Hospital and St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop.
She was an active member of numerous fraternal organizations in Vero Beach including the Moose Lodge, VFW and Eagles, where she loved to dance. She was a member of St. Helen’s Catholic Church.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 at Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 12 p.m., Sept. 3, 2016 at St. Helen Catholic Church, Vero Beach. Interment will follow in Crestlawn Cemetry, Vero Beach. Online condolences may be left at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
