Merced Sun-Star
December 30, 2004
Betty Jean McCollum Padilla
July 12, 1927 ~ December 26, 2004
Betty, a lifelong resident of Merced County was born on July 12, 1927 in
Snelling, Calif., born to Walter Austin McCollum & Rhoda Caroline Fine McCollum.
She attended local schools and was a graduate of Merced High School, and also
attended U.C.Berkeley. Betty was a member of the Merced Historical Society and
the Merced County Genealogical Society, a member of the Mayflower Society and
the Snelling Historical Society. Betty was a writer, painter, genealogical
researcher and for a number of years she wrote a genealogy column for the Merced
Sun Star. She published several books on genealogy research and published a
website on genealogy.
Betty passed away on Dec. 26, 2004 at Mercy Community Medical Center in Merced,
she was 77 years of age.
Betty is survived by her husband, Manuel David Padilla of Merced, Ca., three
sons; Peter Padilla of Merced, Ca., Joseph Padilla of Sonora, Ca. and Michael
Padilla of Elk Grove, Ca., two sisters; Anna Braun of Alameda, Ca., Wilma Simms
of Ceres, Ca., 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, January 3, 2005 at 11:00 A.M. at
Snelling Cemetery District. In lieu of flowers donations in Betty's memory may
be made to the Snelling Courthouse Building Fund in care of the Snelling
Historical Society P.O. Box 249 Snelling, Ca. 95369. All arrangements are under
the direction of Ivers & Alcorn Funeral Home of Merced.