Betsy Fletcher
Born August 29, 1918, Pyongyang, Korea
Died December 22, 2010, Columbus, Ohio
Betsy Fletcher was a great friend to Camp Fire giving decades of service. After death Betsy continued to help Camp Fire by leaving a bequest of $20,000. At her memorial service this inspired tribute to her was read by her Bluebird, Margie Dooley.
From Margie Dooley
Spoken at Betsy Fletcher’s Memorial Service
January 15, 2011
North Broadway UMC, Columbus, Ohio
Have you ever wondered how you would have turned out had you taken a different path? I have asked myself this question over the years and I always come back to two things: Camp Fire and my Blue Bird leader, Betsy Fletcher. Betsy spent approximately 59 years as a volunteer with Camp Fire and I’m convinced that there is a special place in heaven for volunteers. Camp Fire is a non profit youth organization that provides opportunities for children to learn more about themselves and the world around them. The club program is only possible through the volunteer. Betsy’s involvement started when she became a leader for a bunch of 2nd and 3rd grade girls. Each week her daughter, Ruth, and all the rest of the Blue Birds dressed in their navy skirts, white blouses, red vests, and Blue Bird hats would go to the Fletcher home after school. There we not only learned the Blue Bird wish but we lived it through our Camp Fire activities that Betsy planned and implemented.
In addition to having fun, we made crafts, we remembered to finish things that we had started, we learned to keep our temper most of the time, we went to interesting places (especially Camp Wyandot), we learned about the trees, flowers, and birds, and most importantly we made friends. On our weekend camping trips to Camp Wyandot, we learned the importance of leaving the camp cleaner than we found it and leaving a neatly stacked pile of wood for the next campers. Taking us to this beautiful place and teaching us how to build a fire and then prepare a meal over the open fire certainly hooked me on the wonders of Wyandot. As we grew we took more responsibility for planning our weekly programs.
Betsy stayed with this group through their graduation from high school taking them through the various Camp Fire ranks. What fun she must had watching them grow and change over the years.
Betsy’s next major contribution to Camp Fire was the time spent as a leader for inner city girls. She also recruited some of the mothers and helped start groups for their children. She worked with these moms giving them the skills they needed to plan their group meetings, manage the money made from the annual candy sale and also help these moms recognize the talents. She helped them realize their potential.
Betsy continued to be involved with Camp Fire over the years by offering her ideas and helping other club leaders with their groups. She attended the Alumni programs, annual meetings, and events at Camp Wyandot. Last summer, Betsy came to Camp Wyandot and shared her Camp Fire memories as the organization celebrated its100th anniversary.
Betsy gave of herself to countless numbers of children who have each taken what she shared and used it in their own lives. Betsy truly followed the Torch Bearer’s Desire. She took the light which had been given to her and passed it undimmed to others.