Obituary of Betty Poggi

Betty Poggi passed away peacefully in her LakeHavasu, Arizona home. She was born Betty Jean Russey to Merrell and Maud Russey in Mexico City in Augustof 1927. Betty grew up in the silver mining town of Pachuca, Mexico, where her father was the head of the mines electrical engineering department. Betty was bilingual in English and Spanish. After high school Betty went to the United States to complete her education where she attended Stephens College, completingher bachelor's degree at UCLA, where she met her first husband William Fulton. Soon after graduation they married and had two children, Anita and Bill. Betty then completed her Master's Degree in Education while also working full time to support her family. She began her career as aSpanish teacher before becoming the ESL (English as a second language) department head for the FullertonSchool District, andspent the last 20 years of her career as the Director of BilingualEducation for the Santa Ana Unified School District. In December of 1970,Betty married Don Poggi and they settled in Fullerton, California where they spent many happy years. Betty and Don often vacationed in Lake Havasu and really enjoying the desert and lake life. Theychose to design and build their dream house, retiring there in the late 1980s. Betty always remained active in her many social organizationsand she alsolearned to fly an airplane so that she and Don could travel to fundestinations for lunches and social gatherings. They hosted and attended many parties with their friends, which included their renowned annual New Year's Eve party. Betty is survived by her husband Don, her daughter Anita (husband Rick Rheaume) and son Bill (wife Andrea Fulton), and 3 grandchildren Chris, Billy and Rachel. A funeral service will be held at Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at 10:00 AM. Arrangements were placed in the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory. Thoughts and condolences may be sent to Betty's family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com.