Betty Jane Wright

Betty Jane Pittman Slaven Wright, of Skiatook, Oklahoma, passed from this life into eternal life on July 14, 2025, at her home in Skiatook. Born on February 24, 1935, to Oscar Albert Pittman and Ida Mae (West) Pittman, Betty was the youngest of eight children. Raised on farmland in northeastern Oklahoma— near the Tisha Mingo area—she grew up with a strong sense of family, faith, and perseverance. At the age of 11 Betty was baptized holding hands with her older sister Margaret in the waters of Mingo Creek in North Tulsa, a formative moment that shaped her enduring Christian faith. A brilliant student, Betty graduated as Valedictorian from East Central High School in Tulsa, where she was both academically and socially accomplished. She played center on the basketball team, was crowned Basketball Queen her senior year, and held several leadership roles including Vice President of her class, President of the Pep Club, Treasurer of the Future Homemakers of America, Co-Editor of the yearbook, and member of the Glee Club. She later pursued courses in art at Tulsa Junior College, maintaining a lifelong appreciation for art and creativity. She loved Big Bands, Square Dancing and, of course, Betty Boop! Betty’s professional journey began with American Airlines, where she started in the stenographers’ pool. Her exceptional intelligence, organization, and dedication propelled her into executive leadership, retiring after 30 years as the lead Project Librarian in Maintenance and Engineering at the Tulsa base. Her contributions to the corporate world were marked by excellence, resilience, and quiet tenacity. It was at American Airlines where she met Ronald Alvin “Al” Wright. They married on June 1, 1979, and built a life in Skiatook filled with purpose and community service. Betty gave tirelessly of herself to organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Society. Among these, the VFW Post 7180 & Auxiliary held a special place in her heart—she often spoke of its members as her second family. She served with distinction in numerous leadership roles, including President of the Auxiliary, and brought light, laughter, and heartfelt care to all she encountered. At the Claremore Veterans Center, she was a beloved volunteer whose creative costumes, cheerful spirit, and genuine compassion lifted the spirits of residents and staff alike. While Betty was deeply committed to her professional and volunteer life, her proudest role was that of mother. She raised her son, Robert, as a single mother—navigating the dual challenges of parenthood and professional achievement with grace, grit, and enduring love. In every season of her life, Betty’s greatest joy came from her family. She poured a lifetime of love into her son, Robert, and had a special and enduring bond with her grandchildren, Heather and Russell, whom she adored without measure. Their happiness, achievements, children, and presence brought her deep pride and abiding delight. Betty’s compassion extended beyond people. A lifelong animal lover, she welcomed countless strays into her home, giving them safety, love, and companionship. Her final days were comforted by the presence of her loyal dogs, Tippie and Junior who rarely left her side. Throughout her life, Betty was a fierce advocate for the vulnerable—whether human or animal. She possessed a rare blend of joy and principle: she could dress in costume and make a room erupt in laughter, yet never hesitated to speak truth to power. She had a heart for the underdog, an unshakable sense of justice, and a soul that delighted in loving deeply and living fully. She is survived by her son, Robert Dale Slaven, Jr. (the late Denise Slaven); beloved grandchildren Heather Slaven Sommers (John) and Russell Slaven (Meghan); great-grandchildren Jacob Corley, Peyton & Logan Slaven and Ricky Sommers; nieces Susan Crockett (Brian) and Dr. Margaret A. Friend (the late Michael Friend); nephew Russel Pittman; and sister-in-law Jean Pittman. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Oscar Albert Pittman Jr., Rowean Geraldine Calvert, Donald Gene Pittman, Russel Marion Pittman (RM), Carl Edwin Pittman, Margaret Ann Rine, and Bobby Leon Pittman. Her husband, Ronald Alvin Wright; and former husband Bob Slaven. Nephews Albert Rine and Mark Pittman, Great-granddaughter Aaliyah Sommers A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 1, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Betty’s memory be made to Owasso VFW Post 7180 (www.vfw7180.org) or Skiatook Paws and Claws Animal Rescue(www.skiatookpawsandclaws.com)—two causes that reflect her lifetime of service and compassion.

Betty Jane Wright

February 24, 1935 - July 14, 2025