Betty Lo Nixon , February 11, 1927 — December 11, 2018

Obituary of Betty Lou Nixon Dr. Betty Lou Knapp Nixon, age 91, of Painted Post, NY died Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at Steuben Centers in Bath, NY. Dr. Nixon was born on February 11, 1927 in Fairmont, West Virginia. She is the daughter of Earl and Susie (Newkirk) Knapp.

She married Henry Nixon who preceded her in death. She graduated from Fairmont State College in 1949 and stayed in her home community, teaching music at both the elementary and high school she had attended. She earned both master’s and doctorate degrees in education from West Virginia University which led to an invitation to join the staff working on the development of experimental schools for gifted and talented students in East Orange, NJ.

After six years she received an invitation from Rutgers College at Rutgers University to join a staff of a “new field” based program in their department of education, becoming Assistant Professor of Education, and remained there 11 years. She then received an assignment in grant research and worked closely with President Reagan’s new Women’s Educational Equity Program for two years, commuting from the Nixon home in NJ. Betty Lou moved here from Washington D.C. in 1983 with her husband, after having spent part of many summers at Keuka Lake.

While here she became Director of Instructional Support Services at Steuben-Allegheny BOCES for four years. She spent much time at the Corning YMCA on a regular basis. With a swinging athletic style to her walk, she became well known at the YMCA for her power walking and went on to become part of the YMCA board and was involved in their capital campaign.

Her lifelong interests included playing the piano, which she began at the age of 5, continuing her education because of the influence of her father, power walking while concentrating on the music that was an important part of her life, including her favorite Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms pieces as well as Robert Frost poetry. She was cited for her inciteful vision “and a willingness to put her efforts behind her beliefs”. She was a member of the Christ Church choir and very active in the Red Cross, AAUW, and the Elmira Heights Rotary Club.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, December 18th from 5:00 until 7:00 PM, where funeral services will follow at 7:00 PM with Reverend Troy Preston officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Hammondsport, NY. Betty Lou’s family entrusted her care to Haughey Funeral Home, Inc. .

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