Former Corcoran resident Betty J. Bynum died peacefully at her home in Visalia on Friday October 1, 2021 after battling numerous health problems.
She was surrounded by family and her beloved little fur baby Oliver as she joined those loved ones who had passed before her.
Betty was born to Charlie and LueVica Adams on August 17, 1941 in Amagon, Arkansas. The family came to California by train when Betty was 2 years old and settled near Long Beach. They first came to Corcoran in 1942. Betty attended local schools and was a member of the Corcoran High School class of 1960. Betty married Jerry Bynum on November 2, 1977 and they would have celebrated 44 years of marriage next month. They enjoyed traveling together and spent time in Hawaii, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and many major cities and states throughout the United States. They also enjoyed weekend trips to the coast with their grandkids, weekends in Reno with family and friends, and traveling with golfing friends to many beautiful courses.
Dr. Clyde Ball, Betty’s personal physician at the time, encouraged her to pursue a career in nursing after the birth of her first child in 1959, and that is where she found her true passion. Betty will best be remembered by the many Corcoran residents she cared for at Corcoran District Hospital during the nearly 30 years she worked there. She was in the delivery room for the births of many local babies. For the majority of her career Betty was the supervising surgery nurse tending to patients before, during, and after their surgery. She was a mentor and friend to the many nurses she trained in the O.R. The “hospital gang” as she called those she worked with, would become lifelong friends. When California State Prison,
Corcoran was completed in 1988, Betty left Corcoran District Hospital and began her career in correctional nursing with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Betty worked in several prisons in the Valley. In addition to her position as a Senior Medical Technical Assistant, she also worked as an HIV counselor and T.B. Alert Coordinator. In later years Betty was a member of the Tulare County Grand Jury, a position she took great pride in. After a 45 year career in nursing Betty filled her retirement days playing golf with her “golf buddies” in Tulare, gardening, and spending time with family.
Betty is survived by her husband, Jerry; daughters, Tammy Davis (Steve), Lisa Seybold (Nathan), and Julianna Martin; Step-daughters, Lisa Bynum (Stuart Snider), and Staci Bynum (David Merrill); Grandchildren, Christopher (Angie), Stephanie, and Tyler (Meghan) Davis, Conor Boatman (Andrea), Maya and Ella Seybold, Travis (Stephanie) and Erica Bolin, Jane and Audrey Snider, and Madeline Merrill; Great-Grandchildren, Logan and Aiden Davis, Annmarie Howton, Lorelei Davis, Landon Clark, Maurice Carl Martin Bolin, Olivia Pamela Ann Bolin, and McKinley Arnold. All of whom she adored, considered perfect, and were her heroes; Her dear sister, Janis Willhite; sisters- in-law; Maxine White and Billie Byrnes; and cousin, Herb Brumley; niece, Jenifer (Randy) Burnett; nephews, Dennis and Brandon Willhite; and numerous other extended family members.
She was preceded in passing by her parents, Charles and LueVica Adams, mother-in-law and father-in-law Mary and Sakey Bynum, brother-in-law Marvin Willhite, sister-in-law Joann Shirakawa, brother in-law George Shirakawa, brother-in-law Dave White, niece Susan Willhite, nephew Charles Willhite, and former spouse and the father of her children, Harry Martin.
A celebration of her life was held Saturday, October 9 at 11:30 a.m. at “Heart of the Valley Church” located in Visalia at 2800 W. Walnut Ave. A reception was held at the home of Tammy and Steve Davis located at 6010 W Delaware Ct., Visalia, CA 93291.
In honor of her grandson and cancer survivor Logan Davis, please consider making a donation in Betty’s name to Valley Children’s Hospital. You can do so by going to their website at www.valleychildrens.org/foundation/donate-to-valley-childrens.
