Betty Laughlin

Betty Irick Laughlin, age 88, passed away on January 20, 2016. She was born in Warsaw, Indiana, and also lived in Crawfordsville and Bedford, Indiana. Growing up she loved camping, Girl Scouting, and sports – Hail Purdue! Betty attended Furman University and graduated with a degree in Political Science. She was involved with the Theatre Guild, Alpha Psi Omega, and was elected a member of Senior Order at Furman, and stayed active in Alumni events for over 50 years. After graduation Betty was hired by the Houston/Harris County Girl Scouts in Houston, Texas, where she started out managing several Girls Scout camps in East Texas. She had the opportunity to chaperone a Houston TX Girls Scout troop on a summer trip to Europe in 1952, visiting the International Girl Scout Headquarters in Switzerland, Our Chalet, as well as visiting Girls Guides in France, England, and Belgium, including spending the 4th of July at the American Embassy in Paris and meeting Helen Keller. It was while living in Houston that she met her future husband, J Heath Laughlin. Several years later, Betty and Heath relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. Betty continued working with the Girl Scouts in Atlanta as a volunteer and Board Member, as well as being a Troop Leader and also summer Camp Director for Camp Concharty in Pine Mountain, Georgia for four summers. Betty was very involved with her church at North Avenue Presbyterian, running one of the nurseries for several years. She also worked with Bible School and Downtown Atlanta Senior Services. After retiring, Betty and Heath moved to Big Canoe where they became involved with the Big Canoe Chapel and the Big Canoe/North Georgia Friendship Force. Betty also served a term on the Chapel Board of Trustees. Besides working on a variety of committees at the Chapel, Betty gravitated again to working with the nursery. Betty also enjoyed writing a small monthly column for the Smoke Signals news paper at Big Canoe, was a member of the Jasper Friends of the Library, and volunteered with the Georgia Marble Festival as a tour guide for several years. Betty and Heath were able to enjoy travel, both with the Friendship Force as well as with a wonderful group of friends, traveling to both domestic and international locations. Betty was also a member of the Girl Scout Trefoil Guild of North Georgia. Betty was predeceased by her daughter Linda Laughlin, her sister Marilynn Irick, and her husband Heath Laughlin. She is survived by her daughter Diane Laughlin and her extended family, including Judy Irick and Ben Lary, Jack and Charlotte Laughlin, David and Pam Waldron, Elizabeth and Tim Ignasher, and Courtenay and Mark Nantz. A memorial service to be held later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Big Canoe Chapel. A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home, Decatur, GA

Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033