Elizabeth Patterson Greer (Betsy) 86 of Pensacola, FL, passed away on Tuesday, May 05, 2026. Betsy was born in Brookhaven, MS, on August 6, 1939, along with her identical twin Patricia Patterson Langhorne (Patsy), in route to New Orleans, where their father was enrolled in Tulane Medical School. From age nine, Betsy lived in Pensacola, along with her five siblings. She graduated from Pensacola High School in 1957 and attended Sophie Newcomb College, Tulane University, where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.

In November 1959, she married Dr. James F. (Buddy) White, who is now deceased. They moved to Pensacola in 1967 after Buddy finished dental school at the University of Alabama, and she completed her bachelor's degree in English at Birmingham-Southern College. They had one son, Tim White. That same year, Betsy began working for the Department of the Navy, Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, at Pensacola Naval Air Station, as a computer technician and data analyst, where she ran projects supporting the manned flight space program. Her later roles at Naval Education and Training included leading some of the Navy’s first service-wide enterprise architecture initiatives. She retired after 37 years of government service.

In 1984, she married Donald T. Greer. Together, they enjoyed over 50 years of companionship, during which they were married for 42 years. Don and Betsy shared a love for the outdoors, hunting pheasant in South Dakota, sailing to the Dry Tortugas, hiking mountain trails, and traveling to Europe, Asia, Africa, Central America, South America, and Hawaii.

Betsy was an enthusiastic sailor and began racing fish-class sloops out of Pensacola Yacht Club in the 1950s. Later, she raced many of the large regattas along the Gulf Coast in everything from catamarans to large yachts. In addition to sailing, Betsy, as part of a group known as the” Warrington Wonder Women”, ran marathons, completed half-ironman triathlons, and completed the Pensacola Three-Mile Bridge Swim in her 70s.

Betsy also served in many community organizations, including the Pensacola Heritage Foundation, the Pensacola Junior League, the Evening in Old Seville Square celebration, the board of the Episcopal Day School, volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul, and the technical advisory board to the Escambia County School Superintendent. She was a loyal member of Christ Episcopal Church since 1963, serving for many years as a member of the Altar Guild.

Betsy is survived by her husband, Donald Terry Greer; her son, James Timothy White, Sr.; her beloved grandchildren, James Timothy White, Jr., Audrey Lauren White, and step-granddaughter Paige Wheeler; her brothers, William Patterson, Michael Patterson, and Timothy Patterson; and her much-adored nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Christ Episcopal Church. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Christ Episcopal Church and the Pensacola Symphony, or the charity of one's choice.