Gaines, Betty F.

ALBANY- Betty F. Gaines entered eternal rest at the age of 92 on November 21, 2013. Betty was the wife of the late Howard P. Gaines, Jr. and is survived by her children, Richard Gaines of Mehoopany, PA, Brian (Michele) Gaines of Birdsboro, PA, and Peggy (Kevin) Dayer of Albany, NY. Betty is also survived by her grandchildren, Erin, Sarah, and Leslie Gaines and William Dayer.

Born in Philadelphia, she also lived in Cleveland, OH and Hollywood, CA in her youth. In the early 1940s, Betty moved to New York City and began a career as a dancer, working in Broadway shows and night clubs. Betty told wonderful stories of her time working for Lou Walters (father of Barbara Walters) at his nightclub, The Latin Quarter. She made lifelong friends with the women with whom she danced and together with them joined the USO to entertain the troops during World War II. While in the USO she traveled to the South Pacific, Europe, and Asia, and during that time became close friends with actresses Audrey Meadows and Barbara Britton.

It was in the course of traveling to the South Pacific that she met her future husband Howard. They married after the war and settled in southern California. The family later moved to Massapequa, Long Island, where they lived until Howard’s death in 1987. Betty moved to the Capital Region to be near her children and grandchildren, and last resided in Delmar, NY.

Betty will be fondly remembered for her lovely disposition and great sense of humor. Her entertaining stories as a dancer and while serving her country – such as an unauthorized flight in a P-38 fighter plane - will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and her children’s friends. Betty was indeed a very special person.

Interment will be at Calverton National Cemetery, Long Island at the convenience of her family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the USO, at http://www.uso.org/donate