Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Harwell's Obituary
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Harwell, aka Betty or Betty Boop, on December 17, 2025, in Melbourne, Florida. Betty was born in Essington, Pennsylvania on August 17, 1928, to her parents, Curtin and Annetta (Eisele) Welden.
Betty graduated from Ridley Park High School, class of 1946. Following graduation, she joined the 2nd group of the newly formed Women’s Air Force (WAF) of the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1948 to 1950. It was there she met and married Cicero “Lucky” Harwell on June 10, 1950. Lucky continued his USAF career, and they traveled around the world living in several different countries before his retirement in 1970. After his retirement, they moved to Camden, Arkansas to care for his mother until her passing in 1976. In 1978 they moved to Winter Haven, Florida because of how much they liked it when Lucky was stationed there. While primarily a homemaker, Betty worked as a Kelly Girl for Haven Federal Bank, Real Estate Title Service in Winter Haven, was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post 4945 Ladies Auxiliary, in Auburndale, Florida, joining in January 2006, where she served as Secretary and Treasurer until the post’s closing in June 2018, and served in the King’s Point Veteran’s Organization from 2013 to 2025.
Betty is survived by her two children, Linda Ann Key, and Thomas Harwell and his wife Teri; five grandchildren, Daniel Fenwick and his wife Jenessa, Heather Key, Chris Key and his wife Jaclyn, William Harwell and his fiancé Kendall, and Victoria Sherman and her husband Donald; and seven great-grandchildren Ashtyn & Ivy Brooks, Daniel Conner-Fenwick, Charlee & Oliver Key, and Asher & Elizabeth Harwell. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, mother, father, brother Curtin D. Welden, and nephew Gary Alan Welden.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Faith Baptist Church, 8550 FL-33, Lakeland, Florida 33809. Her ashes will be buried alongside her husband in the Buena Vista Cemetery, Troy, Arkansas, on Memorial Day Weekend 2026 (exactly 20 years since she buried her husband’s ashes). Condolences may be expressed at https://www.gentry-morrison.com/obituaries/elizabeth-betty-harwell
What’s your fondest memory of Elizabeth "Betty"?
What’s a lesson you learned from Elizabeth "Betty"?
Share a story where Elizabeth "Betty"'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Elizabeth "Betty" you’ll never forget.
How did Elizabeth "Betty" make you smile?