21 Feb 1921 – 23 Jan 2008
Wife of Joseph Phillip Guild
Most beloved friend, mother and grandmother, Betty Anne or “B.A.” as she was nicknamed, died at the age of 87 years, of natural causes. She had been living in a care home in Napa for 3 1/2 years close to her oldest daughter, Joanne Guild Sorenson and son-in-law, Russell Sorenson.
She was born in New York City to Frank Sheldon Searle and Margaret Scott Searle.
She is predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Joseph Phillip Guild, and her only sibling, Frank Sheldon Searle Jr.
She graduated president of her class in 1942 from Arcadia College in Philadelphia, Penn. While in college, she was on the U.S. Women’s Olympic Alternate Field Hockey Team. She served in the U.S. Marine Corp as a second lieutenant, 1943-1944.
Betty Anne married Joseph on Oct. 31, 1943 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard Chapel. After discharge from the Marine Corp in 1944, she returned to her parents’ home in Pennsylvania when Joseph was shipped out during World War II.
While Joseph was on deployment with the 5th Marine Division, she delivered her first child. Upon his return in 1945, the family moved to Wyoming for Joseph to finish his education. Betty Anne and Joseph had four more children before moving to Iowa. There, she was a wife and mother before returning to teaching physical education in a local school. The next move was to California, where she and her family lived in Marysville and Browns Valley for many years. She taught elementary school age children spanning several generations for 21 years in the Marysville Unified School District — Loma Rica and Foothill Elementary schools.
She was active in the Foothill Lion and Lioness Club, AAUW, and the Women’s Marine Corp organization. She loved living in rural areas, growing flowers and vegetables. She was also an avid amateur photographer and loved music and dancing. She enjoyed spending time with her family and will be remembered for her sense of humor and loving manner. She spent many summers with her family at their cabin in LaPorte on Little Grass Valley Lake. She was an avid “fisher person.”
She is survived by five children: daughters, Margaret Joanne Sorenson of Napa, and Dr. Isabelle Jeanette Ryder of Pollack Pines; sons, Dr. Robert Evan Guild of Eugene, Ore., James Sheldon Guild of Bend, Ore., and Scott Henry Guild of Eureka; and seven grandchildren, Derek Ryder of Los Angeles, Heather Sorenson Spain of Victorville, Nils Sorenson of London, England, Rob and Cody Guild of Eugene, Ore., Rogan Guild of San Luis Obispo, and Katelyn Guild of Redding.
Burial will be Saturday, Feb. 23, at noon, at the Browns Valley Cemetery in Browns Valley, followed by a celebration of her life at the Foothill Elementary School adjoining the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Betty Anne Guild’s memory to: Adult Day Services of Napa Valley, 414 S. Jefferson St., Napa, CA 94559.
Browns Valley Cemetery, Browns Valley, Yuba County, California
