Betty Padgett House

Betty Padgett House died peacefully at home in Houston, TX on February 23, 2026, just shy of her 97th birthday. Betty Jean Padgett was born on March 25th, 1929 in San Antonio, TX to Chester and Mary Wood Padgett. She is survived by her daughter Melissa Cox Macklin and husband Gianmario Travella, her son-in-law Charles Reedstrom, her grandsons Richard Ashley George Reedstrom and wife Sarah Naseman and their children Kathryn, Samson and Andrew, Kirk Alexander Reedstrom and wife Sarah Duet, her niece Janice Younger Kinter and son Jordan Kinter and husband William Merriam, her nephew Darrell Wayne Younger and wife Becky, cousin Nancy Wood Hixon and husband Carter, son Chris and his wife Kathy, and step-son Mark House and wife Sandy and their children and grandchildren. She is preceded in death by many loved ones, notably her beloved husband E. Marcus House and eldest daughter Rev. Dr. Suzanne Cox Reedstrom, and her sister Annette Padgett Younger and husband Dewey. Betty graduated from Hotwells High School in 1946, where she was voted by her classmates as “Best All-Around Girl”. She went on to attend Trinity University in San Antonio and North Texas State College in Denton, TX. Coming of age during the War years profoundly influenced the rest of her life. She was an original bobby-soxer who swooned over Frank Sinatra and danced to the music of the big bands and the American songbook, which she considered the indisputable best music of all time. This generation, nicknamed the Greatest Generation, is an accurate depiction of who Betty House was. She lived her convictions daily. Enjoying a successful career as a corporate oﬃcer of Galveston-Houston Company, she was instrumental in taking the company public in 1980. However, she found real meaning and purpose in her family and in her deep faith, which she cultivated over a lifetime. Betty was a longtime member of First Christian Church where she held various lay leadership positions and was very active in the Christian Women’s Fellowship. Later, she and Marcus followed Suzy to Memorial Drive United Methodist Church where she took part in her cherished Thursday morning Bible study led by Suzy until her death, and was a member of the Bridge Builders Sunday school class. Along with her beloved daughters, Suzy and Melissa, she was especially proud of her two grandsons, Richard and Kirk, who brought her such joy, and was privileged to be a great- grandmother to Richard and Sarah’s three children. Betty touched the lives of so many and was fortunate to have long and lasting friendships that sustained her throughout her years. An avid reader, Betty never stopped learning and enjoyed life to the fullest, always looking for the positive and the beauty in this world. She loved to cook and entertain and garden, and was able to travel the world, but she loved being home with her family and close friends the most. Hers was a beautiful example of a life well-lived. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Program in memory of Suzanne Cox Reedstrom, MD Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486. A memorial service honoring and celebrating the life of Betty House will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026 at 11am at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079. Visit www.DettlingFuneral.com to leave words of condolence for the family.

Betty Padgett House

March 25, 1929 - February 23, 2026