Betty Lou Sistrunk, 77, a resident of Niceville, FL, passed away on June 30, 2015. Mrs. Sistrunk was born on November 3, 1937 in Winchester, VA; the only child of the late Garland David Tharp and Virginia Frances Nicholson Tharp. She attended Oxen Hill High School, MD where she was the lead in many school operettas. She was on the school newspaper and yearbook staff, and voted most talented her Senior year. She was the bookkeeper for her father's home building business. Two weeks following her high school graduation in June 1955, Mrs. Sistrunk began working as a clerk-typist at Andrews AFB, MD. She immediately began attending college night classes. She started modeling the next year, and entered the Miss Washington pageant in 1956, where she placed in the finals. Mrs. Sistrunk cross trained, and by 1968 she was a Budget Analyst working at the Pentagon. By 1975, Mrs. Sistrunk was the Budget Officer for Air Force Systems Command at Andrews, all the while attending college at night. In 1977, Mrs. Sistrunk accepted the Budget Officers position for the Joint United States Military Assistance Group in Seoul, South Korea. After four years, she returned to the US and worked at the Air Logistics Center at Robins AFB, GA. In 1985, her husband received an assignment to the faculty of the Air War College at Maxwell AFB, AL where she began working for Air University. Mrs. Sistrunk received her Bachelors of Science from Faulkner University in 1988, graduating summa cum laude. In 1997, after a forty two year career as a Federal civil servant, Mrs. Sistrunk retired as the Budget Director for Air University at Maxwell. She was a member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, and the Military Officers Association of America. Mrs. Sistrunk has been a resident of Niceville, FL for fifteen years. She enjoyed membership in the Twin Cities Womens Club, The Adventure Club, The Fort Walton Beach Women's Chorus, The Niceville Library Book Club and volunteered with the Children's Advocacy Center. She was a member of the Choctawhatchee Bay Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Betty was known to be a great cook and hosted many lavish dinner parties with her husband. They traveled the world together seeking new adventures and making life-long friends. She was an avid reader, always having a book in her hands. Betty was a loyal and trusted friend, maintaining close friendships with her high school girlfriends, organizing a 70th birthday party in Myrtle Beach. She enjoyed projects, and organized her 50th High School Reunion where she was also the Master of Ceremonies. Betty was a devoted and loving grandmother. She traveled throughout the country attending as many ballet recitals, choral performances, confirmations, football games, sporting events, plays, award ceremonies and dance competitions as possible. She enjoyed taking her grandchildren to the beach, and especially fishing. In the past two years, she attended the college graduations for two of her granddaughters. "Mimi" was cherished, and adored by her grandchildren. Betty is survived by her daughters, Connie Jensen of Florida and Janeane Doran (Robert) of Texas; and her grandchildren, Tyler Randall, Stephanie McCoy (Harlan), Rhianna M. Torrecarion, Jenna E. Doran, Caroline E. Doran, Mitchell McCay Doran, Alexander Michael Doran; as well as many loved cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Colonel (retired) Harold McCay Sistrunk and a daughter, J. Michelle Randall of CA. Memorial contributions may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Donation Processing, P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014, www.michaeljfox.org, or the charity of your choice. Pallbearers will be Robert Doran, Mitchell Doran and Alexander Doran. The family will receive friends at 12:00noon on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at the Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel in Pensacola, FL with Funeral Service beginning at 12:30pm. A committal service will immediately follow at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL. The Reverend Ken Griffin will officiate.